Walsall Manor ward closed after patient diagnosed with Norwegian scabies
A ward at Walsall Manor Hospital has been shut after an elderly patient was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies.
Ward 3 has been shut to new admissions and visitors, while current patients and staff are being given precautionary anti-scabies treatment.
It comes as the Manor has also been hit by norovirus which has seen another ward and the Swift Discharge Suite forced to close.
Amir Khan, director of infection control and prevention said: "I can confirm that we have had an elderly patient on Ward 3 of the Manor Hospital who has today been diagnosed as having Norwegian scabies.
"I would like to reassure people that we immediately took all appropriate action required and the incident is under control. Anti scabies treatment has already commenced and the ward is currently closed to new admissions and to visitors in order to limit the spread. This will be reviewed regularly.
"Norwegian scabies - also known as crusted scabies - is a rare form of scabies and spread by skin to skin contact. As a precaution, therefore, all patients and staff on the ward are being treated with an anti scabies treatment. All contacts are also being traced and treated.
"I can also reassure the public that this disease does not cause any long term harm to patients."
