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Scabies cases keep popping up in Swiss asylum centers.
Scabies alarm in the Swiss asylum centers! According to Samuel Wyss, spokesman for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), cases of the skin disease are currently occurring in many of the approximately 20 federal asylum centers. This is reported by “SRF”.
In Switzerland, the disease was long considered defeated. Because scabies is not notifiable, there are no exact numbers. According to Wyss, however, it is “a problem that occurs regularly in asylum accommodation”. The SEM spokesman assumes that the current cases have a connection with the many applications from unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. These would often become infected with the skin disease on the long flight to the refugee camps.
Upon arrival in Switzerland, migrants are examined and treated for possible diseases and infections. To ensure that the infection is not passed on, rooms are cleaned thoroughly, clothes and bed linen are changed regularly and physical contact is avoided whenever possible.
No risk for population
The Bern cantonal doctor Barbara Grützmacher tells SRF that it is not possible to determine whether there is currently a strong increase or decrease. However, there are “a few inquiries from schools that have a case of scabies.” Overall, there are no more cases than usual, at least in the schools.
The cases in the asylum centers would not pose a risk to the population, says Grützemann. Because in order to get infected with the skin disease, you have to take care of someone, have intimate contact or use the same bed linen.
Scabies, also known as scabies, is caused by itch mites. These nest in the top layer of skin and lay their eggs there. The skin is very itchy, a rash may form. The infection can be treated, but the treatment takes a few weeks.