It is often spread through bedding, and can run riot in student halls, shared houses and care homes
A condition that surged during the Victorian era is making a comeback in the Uk because the only medication to treat it is running out. Scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites which can easily spread through shared accommodation including university halls, care homes and prisons.
President of the British Association of Dermatologists, Professor Mabs Chowdhury, has urged the government to take action in a bid to "rapidly solve the issue". He said: "The shortage of treatments for scabies is a major public health concern. The ease with which it spreads highlights the urgency of maintaining an adequate supply of effective treatments. This is not an issue which will just go away.
Although the condition is common, scabies can often go undiagnosed due to people mistaking the cause of the rash for something else. It can also take up to eight weeks to display the rash, which means it can be unknowingly passed on to others. The infection can be spread through shared items such as bedding as well as skin-to-skin contact. Scabies isn't harmful itself, but scratching the bumps can cause secondary bacterial infections.