Scabies Update: Parents Concerned About Outbreak At YISD Schools; SISD Confirm Isolated Case

7:10 PM UPDATE: Twenty-nine people in the Ysleta School District have now been infected with the highly contagious skin disease scabies.

Officials announced late Friday that a teacher at Le Barron Elementary School and a bus monitor at Riverside were the latest confirmed victims.

Experts say scabies – which appears as an itchy rash – is spread through skin-to-skin contact.

It is not spread through the air or through bodily liquid exchange.

Experts advise anyone who’s been in close contact with an infected person to get tested.

They also say anyone who has the disease should wash their clothing.

CORRECTION: A graphic that ran with a story on Friday about the scabies outbreak at some schools in the Ysleta ISD incorrectly stated that one case had been reported at Parkland Elementary School. One case has been reported at Parkland Middle School; no cases have been reported at Parkland Elementary School.

EL PASO, TX – The Ysleta ISD is reporting that out of the district’s 44,000 students, there have been 24 confirmed cases of scabies. Listed below are the schools in the district that have been affected by the outbreak:

Ascarate Elementary – 16 confirmed cases

Cedar Grove Elementary – 2 confirmed cases

Riverside Middle School – 3 confirmed cases

Parkland Middle School – 1 confirmed case

Riverside High School – 2 confirmed cases

YISD says those students confirmed with scabies are receiving treatment and will not return to school until they are cleared by medical professionals.

Meanwhile, the schools that have the confirmed cases are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

The district adds that all parents are being alerted about the scabies outbreak and will be given information about the infection as well as measures to prevent its spread.

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EL PASO, TX – Socorro ISD officials say one recent case of scabies in their district was confirmed last month at Horizon Heights Elementary School.

Officials say they reported the case to the El Paso Health Department, and since it was an isolated case, the Health Department advised it was not necessary for district officials to contact parents.

District officials say there are no active cases of scabies at Horizon Heights or any other schools in the district.

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EL PASO, TX – A scabies outbreak is spreading to several schools in the Ysleta Independent School District.

A total of 18 students and three teachers have scabies at four schools: Ascarate Elementary, Riverside High School, Riverside Middle School and Parkland Middle School. District officials could not say if the outbreak has been contained.

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition.

Tiny scabies mites burrow under the skin where they live and lay eggs.

The symptoms of infestation could take four to six weeks to show. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms are intense itching and a pimple-like rash.

Scabies is usually found on the hands, arms and lower abdomen.

It is usually passed by prolonged skin contact with someone who has it.

The district has notified the affected schools’ principals and nurses. Some letters have gone out to parents, but the district says they have not informed everyone.

Some parents who were notified by Riverside Middle School are concerned.

“It’s pretty bad. I hope they control it quickly, because that would be a lot of kids getting that problem, you know, and cleaning it up would be a lot harder, so hopefully it will get better soon,” said parent Lorrie Chavez.

District officials said only one person has the condition at Riverside High School, which could be why officials there have not made an announcement.

“I was at Riverside High School yesterday morning talking to the assistant principal and nothing, nobody said anything,” said parent Yvette Apodaca.

Some students said that wasn’t fair. “Some of our friends sent text messages to be careful and stuff…I don’t want to get it because my cousin had it once. And it is pretty weird.”

The city is working with the school district to help those affected. Ysleta ISD spokeswoman Patricia Ayala said the carpets and rooms of the schools affected are being cleaned.

She said the district is working with the city to educate those withthe skin condition. Those students cannot come back to school until they have been treated and cleared by a doctor.

One case of scabies has been reported in the Socorro ISD at Horizon Heights Elementary, according to district spokeswoman Vicki Icard. Teachers continue to check the students in the classroom where the child was. Letters were not sent out to parents other than to those of the affected students, Icard said.

No cases of scabies have been reported in the El Paso ISD.

Click here to view a fact sheet about scabies released by the Ysleta ISD

Click here for more information about scabies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site