Gale : four cases in a clinic in Montauban

udok1/epictura

Published the 09.10.2017 at 12h17

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galeépidémieclinique

At the clinic the Bridge of straw, in the town of Montauban, an epidemic of scabies has broken out and the alarm of the health authorities.This is the second outbreak of this type in the establishment. Four members of nursing staff have been infected this week, reports the newspaper La Dépêche.

Last year, another outbreak of scabies had affected eight members of the nursing staff. “Protocols are in place. The employees affected by scabies are off work confined to their homes. There is no risk for the patientèle “, reassures with The Dispatch Catherine Choma, director of public health of the ARS (Regional Agency of Health) Occitania. “Studies are underway to determine the nature of these problems “.

Measures in place

Measures have been taken to avoid the risk of spread of the epidemic. The bedding, clothing and linen, have, therefore, been washed at 60°C. As for the furniture, disinfection has already been done.

The services have not been able to identify the origin of the epidemic – something much more difficult to do than the incubation period of scabies can be up to six weeks. Nevertheless, it could be in the same household of the one who has infected eight members of the staff last summer.

“At the end of the investigations which had been conducted by the establishment, it was apparent that no patient source had not been detected. The origin of the phenomenon was therefore exogenous to the clinic “, explains Didier Godec, the director of the clinic, to The Dispatch.

The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee of hygiene, safety and working conditions (CHSCT). Scabies human is a highly contagious disease caused by a parasite of the skin. Characterized by itching and lesions of the skin, it is benign, but does not heal spontaneously. If scabies is not treated quickly, there is a risk of epidemic in the entourage.