Dozens of Exeter Hospital Employees Infected with Scabies

Thirty-three Exeter Hospital employees were infected with scabies from a patient.

Scabies is a treatable infection caused by tiny mites that dig under the skin, producing itching.

The infected employees and about 300 employees who may have been exposed received treatment, according to hospital spokeswoman Debra Vasapolli.

She said a list of patients who may have had "even the slightest potential of exposure" is being developed. Those patients are being contacted, she said.

Below is the hospital's statement on the incident:

"At this time we are pleased to report no patients have been diagnosed with the infection; however, in an abundance of caution, staff from the Hospital’s Infection Prevention Department have developed a list of patients who had even the slightest potential of exposure.  Those names are being sent to the patients’ primary care physicians, and the practices will be reaching out directly to their own patients to provide education about their potential risk of exposure and to determine if the patient should receive preventative treatment.  

As of today, Wednesday, October 2, Exeter Hospital's Staff Health Services has nearly completed all precautionary measures with employees who were identified as having a potential risk for inadvertent exposure to the scabies skin mite as the result of the care and treatment of an inpatient at Exeter Hospital.  Since Monday, only one additional employee has presented to Staff Health with symptoms, which means we have been successful in our efforts to prevent further transmission.