[Franky]

From the fijitimes

TWENTY-eight per cent of the population in Tailevu is infected with scabies

This was revealed by the result of a one year study which was carried out in 2004 by a visiting dermatologist from St Vincent's Hospital in Australia. Head of Dermatology at the St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Doctor Margot Whitfeld said she was in Fiji to conduct the research to see how prevalent the disease was in Fiji.

"Scabies is a big problem in Fiji because the Fijian weather is ideal for the growth of scabies mites under the skin," said Dr Whitfeld. She said the disease was also difficult to treat with the constant unavailability of water in Fiji.

Dr Whitfeld said scabies was most prevalent in babies and small children but it did not mean that adults were not prone to get infected. "On my first trip here in 2004, we carried out a study in the Tailevu area with the assistance from the Ministry of Health.

"The main aim of the study was to see the extent of the infection and to look at options for treatment of those infected here," said Dr Whitfeld. She said in 2004 they used tablets to cure scabies instead of ointments and found that tablets were effective and did not produce rashes.

"This trip was made to follow up on those who were part of the study in 2004 and we found that the cases of scabies in the Tailevu area had decreased," she said. She said the Ministry of Health's Department of Public Health was working with her to work out treatment plans for scabies.

"I met with the Director Public Health Dr Timaima Tuiketei and she acknowledged the cases of scabies in Fiji,' she said.