Scabies Reported At Whitehall Elementary In West Norriton

NORRISTOWN, PA -- There have been several cases of scabies at Whitehall Elementary School in West Norriton, health officials confirmed.

The first incident at Whitehall, part of the Norristown Area School District, took place on March 8, according to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

Julie Paoline, Division Director, Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, said that the school had been in "ongoing communication" with the Health Department since that incident.

Since then, there have been five cases that have been identified and treated. Officials expect that number to increase as more staff and students are evaluated.

Scabies is an contagious infestation of the skin by a microscopic mite, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and it is most typically spread by "direct and prolonged skin to skin contact with an infected individual."

"This is a common issue in environments where lots of people are having close contact such as schools, childcare centers, nursing homes, correctional facilities, etc.," Paoline said. "The cases at the school do not represent a significant public health threat."

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