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Is scabies a public health risk?

While unpleasant, scabies is rarely life-threatening and is easily treated with cream. However, its high contagiousness means outbreaks, like this one in Llanelli, can disrupt services and require significant public health resources to manage. It's considered a 'notifiable disease' in some settings, meaning health authorities must be informed to prevent wider spread.

Stories that explain this

Scabies outbreak forces closure of two wards at Llanelli's Prince Philip Hospital

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How do hospitals get scabies? How long has scabies existed? Who pays for hospital outbreaks? What are the health risks? What is public health policing? Who are Public Health Wales? What about mental health? Who advises on health?

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