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Kona Community Hospital. Courtesy photo.
Kona Community Hospital (KCH) reports that it is currently in contact with an epidemic of scabies, a common infection that is spread from person to person through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Signs and symptoms include itching, rash and lesions.
The scabies outbreak was confirmed on Monday, November 19, 2018, while a number of people reported that they were experiencing similar symptoms.
After confirmation of the outbreak, the hospital infection control department immediately set up the hospital-wide infection control protocol in accordance with the policies of the hospital. # 39; s hospital. People potentially exposed to scabies have been notified and treated. Early in the outbreak, Lisa Downing, RN-BSN, Director of Infection Control at KCH, was in close contact with the Ministry of Health. Although scabies is not a reportable disease in the Ministry of Health, Downing contacted the Ministry of Health to ensure that all necessary measures to contain and mitigate the outbreak were underway. Implementation. The DOH has been very supportive.
All staff members were immediately informed of the situation and received specific training for scabies. Potentially exposed people have been in constant communication with the hospital's infection control department.
The hospital said the following in a press release:
"Our decision to refuse to comment on the number of cases of confirmed exposure, or potential exposure at this stage, is twofold. First, at KCH, we are committed to the privacy of patients and employees. The size of our population of employees and patients could make privacy difficult if figures were to be published at this stage. Secondly, the exact number of confirmed cases could take 6 to 8 weeks. To ensure that CMK scabies is eradicated, our surveillance will continue during this time.
Our infection prevention department, clinical staff, environmental departments and hospital leaders take every precaution to protect patients, visitors and staff from potential exposure to scabies. .
We understand that community members are concerned about exposure to scabies. Scabies is caused by a mite that digs under the skin and causes itching, rashes, and sores. It can be transmitted from person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact. He is treatable and does not put his life in danger. Concerned community members who want to know more about scabies can find comprehensive information on the Hawaii Health Department website.
At the Kona Community Hospital, we are confident that our community can trust the care it will receive at our hospital. We are committed to providing the best care possible to every patient we treat. "
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