NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While nearly 300 people have been treated, Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands yesterday clarified there have only been two confirmed cases of scabies in Hurricane Dorian shelters across New Providence.
Sands was commenting on a recent Ministry of Health Situation Report, which revealed 296 people were treated for the itchy skin disease.
In a further breakdown of shelter residents screened and treated for the disease, as of yesterday, 49 showed symptoms of itching suggestive of scabies, and 370 had no symptoms.
Sands told reporters outside Cabinet many of the shelter residents were given treatment to avoid the spread of scabies.
“As you can imagine shelters are an ideal place where you have many people in close proximity for the potential spread of scabies and we don’t want that to happen,” Sands said.
“So yes, there would have been several hundred people given lotion or shampoo to avoid any spread.”
The October 25 report noted the merging of Hurricane Dorian shelter victims at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium may present a challenge with scabies.
According to NEMA, there are 294 people housed at the gym, and 346 people in three tents on the grounds.
