Major Scabies Outbreak Among PG County Firefighters: Report

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A scabies outbreak among Prince George's County firefighters is getting worse, and there are now 28 confirmed cases -- up from 20 earlier, according to a report.

WTOP reports that more than 200 firefighters were screened for scabies, and the affected firefighters come from 13 different firehouses.

The stations are being professionally cleaned in order to deal with the problem. Skin-to-skin contact is the most common way to transmit the disease.

Scabies are an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, which burrows into the upper layer and then lives there and lays its eggs. The condition causes an intense sensation of itching and rashes. It can spread rapidly in crowded areas where prolonged contact between people is common, which is why nursing homes and prisons can become hotbeds of infestation.

Scabies rashes are raised and may look like itchy, blotchy pimples. It may take weeks to eliminate scabies even with treatment.