Cape Town – Authorities are calling for calm in the community of Thembalethu near George in the Southern Cape, after over 200 children from various primary schools in the area were sent to Thembalethu Clinic with itching and a rash, with no specific cause given.
Western Cape health department principal communications officer, Nadia Ferreira, said all the children were examined and a few have been diagnosed with scabies. However, no infectious diseases like measles or chickenpox were found.
“Most of the children are healthy and no specific cause for itching could be determined. the children are being given antihistamines, ointment, and scabies treatment where appropriate,” Ferreira said.
Scabies is a skin disease caused by bites from very small mites that cannot be seen with the naked eye. This substance can remain on the skin for up to two months.
The disease is spread by skin-to-skin contact and by using other people’s clothing. Those who have been diagnosed with the disease must receive medical treatment, along with those they have been in close contact with.
Ferreira said the schools have been asked to stop sending children to the clinics as crowd control is becoming difficult. “Western Cape health is liaising with the Western Cape education department to assess the children, and disperse treatment to the schools.”
She said the environmental health practitioner (EHP) team is visiting schools to assess the cause. Bird lice, other lice, ticks, and fleas are believed to be the cause of the outbreak.
“The EHP team will advise the education department and the Western Cape disaster management team regarding the appropriate measures to take,” said Ferreira.
She urged the public “to remain calm, as the situation is being actively managed”.