Health Ministry Sounds Alarm Over Scabies Resurgence in Schools
Algerian health authorities have issued an urgent alert concerning a significant resurgence of scabies infections within the nation’s educational institutions. The Ministry of Health warns that the closed environment of schools creates fertile ground for the rapid spread of this contagious skin condition, demanding immediate and stringent preventive measures.
Why Schools Are Vulnerable to Scabies Outbreaks
In an official circular dated November 6th, the ministry’s regional officials were reminded that scabies is an infectious parasitic skin disease transmitted primarily through direct personal contact or via contaminated clothing and bedding. This mode of transmission makes crowded classrooms and shared facilities particularly high-risk environments.
The General Directorate of Prevention and Health Promotion has now established definitive protocols for managing scabies cases in educational settings, operating within the framework of existing school health regulations. But what makes this situation particularly pressing? With school health programs affecting nearly a quarter of Algeria’s population, the ministry emphasizes that these institutions serve as essential pillars for strengthening community-wide public health.
Comprehensive School Health Strategy
Algeria’s national school health program represents a multi-faceted approach to prevention, awareness, and health promotion. The state guarantees protection and health promotion through integrated programs that include:
Regular health screenings for early disease detection among students
Systematic management of identified medical cases
Vaccination campaigns following the national immunization schedule
Health education sessions to promote hygiene awareness
Rigorous hygiene monitoring throughout educational facilities
Comprehensive health coverage during year-end examinations
Mandatory Outbreak Response Protocol
The ministry has designated strengthened health measures as an absolute priority, outlining specific mandatory procedures when scabies infections are confirmed:
Immediate comprehensive screening of all students and staff in affected classes or schools represents the first line of defense. Those confirmed infected must receive prompt treatment with prescribed anti-scabies medication and be temporarily excluded from school until medical clearance confirms full recovery.
The protocol extends beyond immediate containment, requiring screening operations in neighboring educational institutions and thorough disinfection of all classrooms and facilities. The question remains: how can communities ensure these measures are effectively implemented?
Collaborative Approach to School Health
The circular explicitly states that infected students may only return to class after medical examination certifies complete recovery. This underscores the necessity of close cooperation between health and education departments, alongside local authorities, to maintain a secure school environment.
Beyond outbreak management, the ministry has reaffirmed the fundamental importance of maintaining adequate hygiene infrastructure—ensuring all school sanitation facilities have running water, liquid soap, hand towels, and sufficient cleaning staff to maintain proper cleanliness. These basic measures form the foundation of preventive health in educational settings.
Source: Algerian Ministry of Health Circular No. 25, dated November 6th