Nashville Jailhouse Scabies Outbreak Spreads To Courthouse: Report

NASHVILLE, TN — At least four courthouse employees have been diagnosed with scabies connected to an outbreak at a privately-run Nashville jail, The Tennessean reports.

Court officials confirmed four cases of scabies with another six employees being tested for possible exposure to the human itch mite that causes the rash. More than 200 female inmates at the detention center run by CoreCivic — formerly Corrections Corporation of America — are already undergoing treatment, with 39 confirmed cases. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

A murder trial has been postponed because one of the defense attorneys contracted the disease.

The Health Department believes it could take "a couple of weeks" to get the outbreak under control, according to the newspaper.

Image via the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention