A scabies outbreak affected almost 160 people with disabilities in a residential building in Alagon.
The Ministry of Health of the Government of Aragon is responding to an outbreak of scabies in a house managed by Atades in the city of Alagon. At least 160 users of the center were affected, mostly aged between 60 and 80 and with intellectual disabilities. As sources in the department explained to the newspaper, the first symptoms were identified in mid-September, and the center’s management company is currently working in coordination with the main department and subdirectorate of public health on containment and treatment measures.
Atades sources said that when they became aware of the presence of scabies among residents, they reported “due to the fault of health authorities” what was happening in the city center. However, some relatives regret being allowed to return home in the final months of summer because it poses a risk of spreading the disease.
Currently, the so-called residential city of Sonsoles is carrying out the intervention in two different areas, according to Health. On the one side, appropriate pharmacological treatmentwith special medications for people affected by ticks and their contacts. In parallel, environmental measures have been taken to ensure that all textiles, household items and premises are cleaned and disinfected.
From Atades they state that it is “absolutely essential” that both pharmacological treatment and environmental measures are carried out simultaneously, and the planned start of these to reverse the presence of the mite will begin in the week of October 14. Families have now been advised to limit users’ visits and outings to avoid the risk of infection and initial measures have been taken.
The Ministry of Health explained that the outbreak is “unusual” due to a large number of sick patientsalthough this skin condition is usually common in such healthcare settings. Apparently, the first isolated cases were identified in early June and received an individual approach.
In addition, there is an “active search” for more cases among the patients’ contacts, as they are all elderly and have various types of disabilities that make them dependent.
On the other hand, sources familiar with the reality of the center, which They note the speed with which public health acted.recalled that last year, residents’ families had to deal with “alarming weight loss in a large percentage of inmates,” prompting a meeting that led to dietary changes in food services.