Sustained scabies outbreak frustrates families of PCH residents

A months-long outbreak of scabies at a Selkirk personal care home has families upset and the local MLA urging health officials to do more to eradicate the problem.

Tudor House has confirmed it is battling an ongoing outbreak of scabies, which was first declared on Sept. 12.

Dave Ramsay says his 85-year-old father, Neil, moved into the 76-bed facility the day before the outbreak was declared. His dad, who suffers from dementia and is unable to stand or walk independently, contracted scabies several days later.

He has been in and out of isolation since, and was reinfected with the skin infestation in mid-December. His roommate has also been infected multiple times.

“Everyone has to put a gown and gloves on to visit,” he said. “What worries me is he could decline. He has spent more than 80 days in quarantine. It has (almost) been six months (since the outbreak began).”

Ramsay said one solution proposed was to move his father to a personal care home in Oakbank, but that would mean his wife, who is also a Tudor House resident, could no longer visit him daily.

Scabies is a skin rash caused by the human itch mite. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority website notes the symptoms include intense scratching and a pimple-like rash.

“It can spread easily where close body and skin contact occurs,” the site notes.

The WRHA said itch mites will live up to two months on a person, but die between 72 to 96 hours if off the human body or when exposed to temperatures of 50 C for 10 minutes.

Selkirk Progressive Conservative MLA Richard Perchotte, who has been looking into the matter in recent weeks, said he understands that outbreaks of scabies or other illnesses can happen, but he doesn’t understand why it has been ongoing for months.

“Something is missing in the cleaning, something is missing in the core of the patients who have it — something major is being missed,” said Perchotte. “Whether their cleaning system is at the right temperature or not using the right chemicals, whatever is happening, this outbreak is continually resurfacing.”

Perchotte said it is especially troubling that this is happening to seniors.

“Whether their cleaning system is at the right temperature or not using the right chemicals, whatever is happening, this outbreak is continually resurfacing.”

“We need the health authority to step in and say ‘we need to eradicate this issue and get it out of the personal care home’… also the government needs to make sure personal care homes are funded properly so that they can have the staff in place to address it, to monitor people so they aren’t leaving their rooms, when they should be in quarantine, to spread this infectious situation to the other tenants.

In a statement, Tudor House administrator Cathy Powell said by declaring an outbreak, the facility is able to “take action and implement additional control measures, with oversight from medical and clinical leadership, for the purposes of decreasing the risk of spread.”

Powell said the measures being taken include giving oral treatment to all residents, whether they have symptoms or not, assessing skin daily, performing extensive daily cleaning and disinfection of common areas, all resident rooms and washrooms, and cleaning and laundering the clothing of each resident.

“Residents are receiving appropriate treatment and care and the situation continues to be monitored closely,” she said.

“Residents are receiving appropriate treatment and care and the situation continues to be monitored closely.”

“We know that visitation and daily activities are very important for the well-being of our residents, and screening and sanitization protocols remain in place to support both.”

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said scabies outbreaks are handled by the facility and the local regional health authority.

“We recognize that outbreaks of this nature can be distressing for residents and families and ensuring seniors’ safety and dignity remains a priority,” the spokeswoman said. “Scabies outbreaks in congregate living settings can last longer than respiratory outbreaks due to the time it can take for symptoms to appear following exposure. Infection prevention and control measures have remained in place throughout.”

A spokeswoman for the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority said it has been providing education and support throughout the outbreak.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca