Kampala — Scabies, a contagious skin disease, has attacked Koboko district.

The district health officer, Dr. Alfred Driwale, said the infection was spreading fast because most health centres did not have the drugs to treat it.

"It had been a forgotten disease because we last experienced it in the 1970's when most people fled to exile in Sudan," he said.

Driwale identified the most affected area as Kubala sub-county, near the Sudan border.

He said the increasing skin infections reflected in the monthly medical reports were alarming, adding that local authorities had not reported the outbreak.

"I have been out to schools like Alipi Primary School and found many children already infected. Some families were affected but had been keeping quiet about it," Driwale regrettted.

Scabies is spread by direct skin or close body contact. The symptoms include itchy skin, which appears mostly at night, skin irritation between the fingers and toes, around the wrist or navel, in the folds of the elbow, armpit, belt-line, groin and in the genitals.

Driwale blamed the outbreak on the lack of sufficient water for home use. Koboko is one of the districts with the least sources of clean water, with some areas like Ludara sub-county having as low as 20% water coverage.

Driwale said he had alerted the Ministry of Health about the outbreak.

How to avoid re-infection

Family and close contacts should be treated at the same time. Wash and iron clothes, bedding, and towels that have been in contact with the victim.

Cleaning the environment should include:

-Vacuuming floors, carpets, and rugs.

-Disinfecting the floor and bathroom surfaces by mopping.

-Daily washing of recently worn clothes, towels and bedding in hot water.

-Consistently rubbing antibacterial lotion on infected areas.

-Keeping infested areas covered by clothing

-Avoid contact with genitals, if infected, permanent damage may be caused.