There is a scabies outbreak in some communities in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region, authorities of the Municipal Health Directorate have confirmed to JoyNews.
Reports suggest officials from the Municipal health directorate were dispatched to two communities – Tinguri and Duu which have been hard-hit by the outbreak, to assess infection rate and plan treatment for the patients.
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Speaking in an interview with Joy News, a top official at the directorate who asked for anonymity disclosed over 10 communities have so far been affected.
“The figure could rise as more communities are still being assessed and we are to brief the Municipal Chief Executive today,” he said.
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The Mamprusi West Municipality becomes the second district in the region to have recorded large scale infestation after parts of East Mamprusi District earlier reported a massive outbreak which affected more than 20 communities.
About 6000 inhabitants were affected in the earlier outbreak in the East Mamprusi District with the first outbreak recorded at Dagbriboari, a small village situated 12-kilometer west of Gambaga, the second largest town in the district.
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Scabies is a skin condition that can cause itching and rashes. It is a condition caused by an eight-legged microscopic mite.
The outbreak was initially linked to superstition which led to appeasing of the gods but nothing changed until samples were taken by experts and confirmed to be scabies.
The disease is contagious and can spread very easily from person to person through close physical contact.
Source: Adomonline.com