Thirty residents and 29 staff members at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo have exhibited symptoms of scabies, according to a written statement provided Tuesday by Administrator David Pettijohn.
Hawaii’s only state veteran’s facility, which is managed by Avalon Health Care, confirmed on Monday an outbreak of the parasite.
Yukio Okutsu, in coordination with Hilo Medical Center and the state Department of Health, has been “closely monitoring and addressing” the outbreak, Pettijohn’s statement read.
“After initial discovery of the infection, an immediate facility-wide assessment was completed for all residents and staff,” it reads.
Following guidance from the DOH, local primary care providers and recommended treatments outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, employees at the 95-bed facility have been “aggressively managing the situation and are working to resolve the issue as expeditiously as possible.”
“Everyone has been treated; our cautious assessment is that this is the peak of the outbreak,” the statement reads. “Due to established infection control protocols and interventions, we should begin to see a resolution.”
According to the CDC, scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. Microscopic scabies mites burrow into the upper layer of the skin, where they live and lay eggs.
The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash, the CDC says.
DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo said the department’s Hawaii District Health Office staff advised the facility that there are several treatment options when it comes to scabies, and it is up to a care provider to decide the best course.
It’s recommended that they treat close contacts, and that those infected thoroughly clean their environment — such as rooms, homes and cars — to prevent reinfection.
According to Pettijohn’s statement, visitation restrictions will remain in effect at Yukio Okutsu until all residents and staff have completed the recommended series of treatments, protocols, which are individualized for each person.
However, “due to our aggressive and widespread treatment of all residents and staff, we anticipate adjusting visitation restriction in the very near future,” the statement said.
Daily monitoring of staff and residents also will continue to ensure there is no reinfection, and cleaning of facility rooms and common areas is underway to help minimize the spread.
Scabies can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where close body and skin contact is frequent. Institutions such as nursing homes, extended care facilities and prisons are often sites of scabies outbreaks, according to the CDC.
The first time a person gets scabies, symptoms can typically take 4-8 weeks to develop, and scabies can still spread during this time.
According to the CDC, severe itching, especially at night, is the earliest and most common symptom of scabies and a pimple-like itchy rash is also common.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
