10,000 Children Suffering From Scabies

Reasons for the epidemic are cited as the chloriform bacteria (of which e. coli is one type) traced in the town water supply system, lack of water supply for about a month now due to repairs of the network and difficulty in obtaining affordable scabies medicing from local pharmacies.

Health Rights movement Executive Board member Dr. Mustafa Sutlas says "factors cannot be a reason for a scabies epidemic. This problem is a health problem. The government is responsible for the scabies outbreak."

Sırnak's "Haber 73" newspaper reporter Zekai Gunes reports that such diseases have surfaced in Cizre in the past but this is the first time an outbreak is affecting so many victims. Gunes believed one reason for the disease spread is the lack of hygiene awareness among the local population. Also, a great majority of the children affected by scabies are children of poor families.

Sutlas: Government responsible for scabies

Doctor Sutlas, meanwhile, says "the people of the region lack health services as they are victims of opportunity inequality. The problem is that the moment they contract scabies they do not have access to relevant information, authorities or treatment. Because of this, the reason of the scabies outbreak is not water shortage but the government."

Noting that the main reason for scabies, an itchy condition of the skin caused by tiny mite, is lack of hygiene, Sutlas adds, "it would be a mistake to assume the scabies outbreak in Cizre is the result of water shortages or microbes in the existing water. If that were the case, there would have been other contagious diseases such as diarrhoea."

Sutlas points out that where complaints of an outbreak are received, the first step should be to access whether the Health Centre is providing service or not and continued: "the health service should be a service, a principle right, that can be used equally, free and be accessible for all, but part of Turkey lacks this service."

Mardin's Şırnak Chamber of Doctors chairman Huseyin Mantu agrees that for many years the health service has not reached out to the East of the country and relates that both doctor and health personnel in the region are understaffed.

Schools shut

After samples taken from the local water supply network showed the Chloriform Bacteria present, a decision was taken to close all elementary and high schools in the township for two days.

According to a report on CNNTurk, the local National Education Director Ihsan Goren said a total of 17 schools would be disinfected. He said "30,000 students are registered at these schools"

What is scabies?

Scabies is an itchy condition of the skin caused by a tiny mite (Sarcoptes scabiei).

Symptoms: The mite burrows into the skin, especially around the hands, feet, and male genitalia. It does not usually affect the neck and head, although it may in infants.

The itching is due to an allergic reaction to the tiny mites, and is associated with a rash of red, raised spots. The itch is worse at night, and may often affect more than one family member.

Causes: Scabies is caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) which burrows under the skin, but the rash and itch are much more widespread than the location of the mites. The mite may be passed easily by close contact and commonly starts at the wrist, presumably having been picked up through holding hands.

Diagnosis:Diagnosis is often made clearer because more than one family member has an itchy rash. Sometimes burrows can be seen, especially near to the wrists. The doctor may sometimes manage to remove a mite from a burrow in order to look at it under magnification. (EZÖ/TK/II/ YE)