Health officials identified two confirmed cases of scabies at Woodcock Primary School, which is the third public school where the outbreak was identified. Woodcook Primary Principal Deloris Forbes told The Guardian yesterday that the school's nurse identified the infected students on Wednesday. She said they did not contract the infection at school.

While the Hospital Lane school remained open Thursday and Friday, Forbes said the classrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and the infected students were treated. Additionally, she said the entire school population was screened yesterday. No one other case was identified.

The entire school is expected to be assessed and disinfected today, Forbes said. Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said she is concerned about the number of schools where children have tested positive for scabies. Students at D.W. Davis and T.A. Thompson junior high schools both closed briefly this week as a result of the scabies outbreak. Wilson said she understands that a fourth school may be impacted. T.A. Thompson Principal Dwayne Higgins said there was one confirmed case at that institution.

Asked about past outbreaks on Thursday, Higgins said, "This is the first time in any school that I have been in New Providence where we have had to deal with this type of thing. When you have schools where students come predominantly from inner city areas, you are going to find that whatever is happening in the inner city is going to come to school. Scabies, in particular, is not something that is at school. It is something at home that the children bring to school."

T.A. Thompson is also expected to be assessed and cleaned today. As a precaution, Wilson said several schools are also taking measures to ascertain if students are infected. Albury Sayle Primary School Principal Katherine Rolle said a nurse was at the Nassau Street school to screen students this week. She said no cases were identified.

"But we will deal with it if we get it," she assured.

Rolle said there was an infection at that school many years ago and it was promptly handled. Rolle said that there is no need for panic as the infection is easily treated.

Meantime, Wilson said she has contacted officials from the Department of Public Health to express her concerns. She said teachers can go to the South Beach Clinic where a skin specialist will be on hand to test and treat teachers who have concerns. She also encouraged parents to watch their children as the infection is easily spread.

Scabies is a contagious skin infection that spreads rapidly in crowded conditions and is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, according to the World Health Organization. The disease causes severe itching and is commonly transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.

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