By Kaipee Luther Newray
A contagious scabies skin disease has affected dozens of people in Kpamue Town, Zota District Bong County in central Liberia.
Locally known as ‘’Be Serious,‘’ Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
Direct skin-to-skin contact is the mode of transmission and a severe and relentless itch is the predominant symptom of scabies.
A local Journalist in the area says more than twenty five (25) people are currently by the disease.
Kpamue Town Chief Kerkulah Tokpah Tonorfasia said that the outbreak of the disease started last month, with a child that was affected.
He said there is no clinic in the town and as such residents have to travel long distance to seek medical treatment.
Chief Tonorfasia said traditional healers attended to the little boy but response from the traditional medicines was very poor.
He explained that several of the affected residents are unable to walk or travel to the provincial capital, Gbarnga for further treatment.
‘’The disease constantly itch their skin and whenever they scratch it creates wounds,’’ he says.
Meanwhile, Chief Tonorfasia is calling on health authorities in Bong County to come to their aid by providing them treatment for those affected and preventive measures for the rest of the population in the town.
He underscored the need for medication provision to avoid the wide spread of the diseases in other parts of the county.
Chief Tonorfasia disclosed that health officials in the County have been alerted about the latest outbreak instead they are not responding to their request.
If left untreated, scabies can continue for many months.
Health workers say it is important to remember that recurrence of symptoms after attempted treatment does not exclude the diagnosis of scabies, because patients may not have treated themselves correctly or may have been re-infested by an untreated contact.