HEALTH

Scabies outbreak reported at Lakewood nursing home

Andrew J. Goudsward
Asbury Park Press

EDITOR's NOTE: On Friday, the state Department of Health said there are no confirmed scabies cases at the facility, but health officials are still awaiting some test results. READ MORE HERE

LAKEWOOD - Officials are investigating multiple cases of scabies, a contagious skin condition, at a township nursing home and rehabilitation center, state and county health departments confirmed.

Health officials are working to contain the scabies outbreak at Fountain View Care Center, said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. The department is working with the center's management to clean and disinfect rooms, clothing and linens and to treat anyone affected by the outbreak, Leusner said

What is scabies? How can you protect yourself from it? Here are 4 things to know about scabies after Lakewood scare  

The scabies cases were first reported to the Ocean County Health Department on Feb. 7, said spokesman Brian Rumpf. County officials and facility management then instituted "preventative measures" designed to stop the spread of the disease including giving staff appropriate safety equipment and warning staff and patients to avoid skin-to-skin contact, Rumpf said.

Scabies is a mite that burrows under the skin, causing a rash and irritation.

County and state officials both said they didn't know how many people had contracted the illness at the facility and didn't have information on their current status. Representatives from Fountain View Care Center were not immediately available for comment.

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It wasn't clear whether those impacted were patients, staff or a combination of both. Rumpf said anyone who was affected would likely have symptoms for a few weeks.

Scabies is a skin condition caused by an infestation of a parasite known as the human itch mite. The mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays eggs, according to the state Department of Health. For more on scabies, see the video at the top of this story.

The infestation often causes a rash and intense itching. The mites are spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and outbreaks often occur in long-term care settings, like Fountain View Care Center, as well as schools, daycares and prisons, officials said.

A mere hug or handshake is typically not enough to spread the parasite. The condition is easily treatable with a prescription cream or lotion, but itching can last for a few weeks, according to WebMD.com.

Health officials are working to determine whether there was "any outside cause or contagion," but at this point they do not believe it has spread beyond the facility, Rumpf said.

Fountain View Care Center, located on River Avenue offers post-hospital, long-term, short-stay and hospice care options, according to its website.

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Staff Writer Stacey Barchenger contributed to this story.

Andrew Goudsward: @AGoudsward; 732-897-4555; agoudsward@gannettnj.com