Irish University Warns Students Of Scabies Outbreak

The University of Limerick’s Student Union has posted a message on their Facebook page, warning students of an “increase of students being diagnosed with scabies amongst the student population”.

The university’s students union posted the message on the wall of their Facebook page on February, 21^st. It has been shared 35 times.

Scabies is a contagious skin infection caused by the mite, Scarcoptes scabiei. The mite is tiny and not directly visible, but it burrows under the person’s skin causing intense itching.  

The post lists symptoms as itching, most commonly at night, rashes, mostly between the fingers, sores on the skin from scratching and thin, pencil-mark lines on the skin.

The disease can be transmitted from objects but is most often transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, something that is almost impossible to control in a densely-populated university environment.

The message advises people to contact the medical centre if they notice any symptoms.