Scabies outbreak in prisons, Phuket Provincial Prison, Thailand, 1 January-2 June 2016

Abstract

Background: On 18th May 2016, staffs from Social medicine department of Vachira Phuket Hospital was on field to service inmates and to monitor possible outbreaks. Duty nurse reported scabies-like symptoms of 67 patients from January–May 2016. We coordinated various related sectors including doctors, nurses and laboratory officers to start the investigation from 2nd June 2016.
Methods: This study aims to confirm the incidence, to find out causes and the level of association and to purpose appropriate prevention using descriptive epidemiology by reviewing scabies breakouts. Suspected cases were defined as having itching with rash, vesicles, scratch mark, burrows or dermatitis. The confirmed diagnosis was made by physicians in the team of investigation and control. Risk analytic epidemiological study was performed in disease and non-disease group and in environmental exploration. Disease control was done in patients, contacted person and in environment.
Results: 351 suspicious cases were found among 1,752 male and female inmates, accounting in 20.03%.The mean age of cases are 31.02 years-old. Onset of most cases was in the end of March 2016. Peak of the outbreak were in May 2016. Possible risks factors are bedroom, inadequate treatment, crowded living, inappropriate environment, personal belongings sharing and history of scabies.
Conclusions and discussions: This is a breakout of scabies among inmates of Phuket Provincial Prison. Disease control was performed by adequate treatment in confirmed cases, putting cream on all contact cases. Clothing and linens were laundered and dried with heat, Fumigation and insecticide sprays in living area and around the temple were conducted. Giving education in keeping hygiene especially in body and utensil cleaning and in not sharing them with others. After all processes, all cases were cured and no new case was found. However, disease monitoring guideline were implement with settlement from Phuket Provincial Prison.