EL PASO---It's spreading. As of Thursday, 21 students and teachers have come down with scabies, and there are now cases reported on four campuses in the Ysleta Independent School District.
The cases now confirmed: 13 students and three teachers at Ascarate Elementary; three students at Riverside Middle School, one student at Parkland Middle, and one student at Riverside High.
According to Patricia Ayala, the district's spokeswoman, the outbreak began with one family whose children attend Ascarate Elementary.
"Well I can't believe it, because it's so strange (to have it) at the school," said Hermena Villa, whose grandson goes to Ascarate.
The district sent two letters to parents at Ascarate and Riverside Middle.
Tthe first came a week and a half ago, saying what the schools had done to treat the campuses, and what families should do.
"They had sent a note that they were already disinfected and they (steamed) the rugs," said Norma Ruiz, one concerned Ascarate Elementary mother.
"You have to wash your clothes with the hot water, (not) use the same towel," said Villa.
The second note was sent Wednesday, reminding parents to continue to watch out for signs their child might have scabies.
Despite efforts to disinfect the school where it started, the bugs just keep spreading.
Parents are learning since that first notice, more students, and now teachers, have come down with scabies.
"That's why it's a little upsetting because at first it was just classrooms and just a couple of kids, and now it's teachers," said Ruiz.
The City of El Paso Dept. of Public Health has teamed up with YISD's District Health office in order to educate parents about getting rid of the mites.
While students infected will not be allowed back on campus without a note from their doctor, getting rid of the problem at schools will be tough without parents help, said Public Health spokeswoman Tammy Fonce-Olivas.
Both the district and the public health department are urging families whose children have been infected to treat the whole family for scabies.
Parents we talked with, whose children haven't been infected, say they're already doing what's been suggested.
"I'm doing that but I mean, if it's in the school, then that's not going to help," said Ruiz.
But here's something that might help. Spring break is approaching, which will send kids home from school and maybe allow any bugs around the school to die off.
But what is scabies exactly, and how is it treated?
"A child will complain of severe itching, and you will see streaks on their hands, on their elbows, on their upper extremities or their lower extremities," said Dr. Andres Enriquez, a family doctor practicing out of West El Paso.
Scabies is a skin infection caused by a small mite that burrows underneath the top layer of skin.
It's transferred by skin-to-skin contact, and can spread quickly.
"It's very, highly contagious," said Enriquez. "...You can actually spread it to family members, family members can then go on and spread it at work or school."
Scabies cases are most common in schools, said Enriquez. "Every year, there's one or two outbreaks at the schools."
Children are most likely to get it in places like the playground, in the gymnasium or in the locker room, but there are simple things that can be done to prevent it from spreading, he said.
"Proper hygiene, make sure you wash your hands, " he said. "Make sure you wash the clothing, the sheets, the bed..." in hot water.
The good news? Treatment is fairly simple and effective.
You can get rid of scabies by using a prescription cream.
It commonly takes about a week to get rid of the infection.
If you would like a copy of YISD's Fact Sheet handed out to parents, click on the following link.
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