Scabies outbreak hits area high school

PORT ORCHARD -- Officials at South Kitsap High School sent parents a letter Nov. 1 warning of a scabies outbreak at the state's most populated high school.

According to the Port Orchard Independent, several students and their families contacted school officials earlier this month in regard to itching and skin rashes. School officials believe the rash is caused by scabies, a highly contagious skin infection typically spread by skin-to-skin contact.

The school urged symptomatic students to stay home Friday. Infected individuals are encouraged to seek a physician for treatment.

South Kitsap officials are taking steps to clean the school and determine the cause of the outbreak, the Independent reported.