Scabies outbreak confirmed at McHenry County nursing home

Health officials are investigating a scabies outbreak confirmed this month at the McHenry County-operated Valley Hi Nursing Home.

While dozens of residents and employees are still receiving oral and topical medications to treat the highly contagious disease, Valley Hi staff members are compiling information about the events leading up to the outbreak at the Woodstock facility.

Working with a subcommittee tasked with addressing the issue, Valley Hi Administrator Tom Annarella said Wednesday he wants to put together a report on the incident and refine the nursing home's policies on handling such diseases.

"The report should help us identify things we should do better (and) help us identify things we did really well," he said. "That way, if something like this ever happens again, we have a road map on what to do."

Four cases, all involving Valley Hi residents, have been clinically diagnosed as Norwegian, or crusted, scabies, said Susan Karras, communicable disease program coordinator with the McHenry County Department of Health.

Additionally, 24 residents and 13 staff members were reported to have rashes but have not been clinically diagnosed, said Dawn Redner, Valley Hi director of nursing. Those suspected but unconfirmed cases are being investigated, Karras said, as is the origin of the outbreak.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, which causes intense itching and a rash. People with Norwegian scabies, a more severe form of the disease, typically have thick crusts on the skin. It can be spread through direct contact, as well as through contamination of bedding, furniture and clothing.

Potential cases were first reported June 30, said Joseph Gugle, the health department's administration division manager. The outbreak was confirmed the following day, he said, at which point both the state and county health departments began investigations.

Since then, residents and staff members have undergone several rounds of treatment, Redner said, noting even those without symptoms have been encouraged to do so.

Contact isolation precautions are still being taken with all symptomatic residents, who have mostly been kept on the nursing home's second floor, Redner said. Until last Saturday, outside guests were not allowed to visit the facility, and the nursing home is still declining to accept new residents.

Staff members said Wednesday extra measures are also being taken to regularly sanitize the facility, especially the rooms, bedding and laundry of the residents with rashes.

Annarella said Valley Hi management has been following guidelines set by the health departments, as well as the CDC. However, he said, some discussions regarding the outbreak indicated there may have been a delay in reporting the disease. A thorough analysis of the incident should help to determine the validity of those claims, he said.

"I think the families and the staff would really appreciate knowing that a thorough review was done and that there was accountability to anyone or anything that needs to be addressed," he said. "Not only is it fair to them, but it's also necessary for us."