News hour
In cooperation with
RTV North
NOS News•
The number of cases of scabies among Groningen students has almost doubled in three weeks. GPs have therefore started a campaign together with student associations, writes RTV Noord.
In the region, the number of scabies cases has risen from 36 per 100,000 residents to 66, according to Nivel knowledge centre.
At Groningen GP practices Studentarts, they are sent daily photos of red, itchy spots on the skin. Information is therefore being disseminated in collaboration with student associations to prevent the disease.
Watching series together under a blanket
Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by the scabies mite. You can become infected through skin contact for fifteen minutes or wearing the clothing of someone with scabies.
“It is a social disease,” says general practitioner Maarten Goedhart of Studentarts to RTV Noord. “I know that there are student houses where twenty girls live who watch series together on the couch under a blanket every evening. That is a wonderful route for the scabies mite.”
Scabies is easy to treat with ointment, but it must be applied very accurately. “Then you see that eighteen out of twenty residents of a student house do well, and two do it half-heartedly. Then you have another outbreak a few weeks later,” says Goedhart.
Hospital
The GGD has seen an increase in the number of cases of scabies since 2013. Last November, the number of scabies cases nationwide rose to record highs. The problem is especially big among students.
The Rijnstate hospital in Arnhem announced additional measures against the spread of scabies last week. Several infections were also detected there.
Patients or employees who suspect that they are infected are referred to the dermatologist. Employees and patients who have been in contact with an infected person will be approached by the hospital and possibly treated preventively.