People have been urged not to visit a Welsh hospital as health officials continue to manage a scabies outbreak that has affected the area for several months.
Visits to relatives at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli have been restricted. Hywel Dda University Health Board said several cases are being managed in healthcare and community settings across its region, which includes Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
The health board has not said which wards are closed or confirmed whether some areas have been more seriously affected than others. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates from Carmarthenshire.
Patients due to attend appointments at Prince Philip Hospital could also experience changes or cancellations as a result of the restrictions. Officials said affected individuals would be contacted as soon as possible.
The NHS describes scabies as an itchy skin condition caused by mites. Symptoms commonly include intense itching, often worse at night, along with a raised rash or spots, according to Wales Online.
Although scabies does not usually cause serious health problems, it is highly infectious. The mites can spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact or by sharing clothing, bedding and other fabrics.
The latest restrictions follow a separate outbreak at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, where a ward was closed in July. At the time, officials reported an “increased prevalence” of scabies across the wider region.
Sharon Daniel, Hywel Dda’s executive director of nursing, quality and patient experience, said the decision to limit visitors at Prince Philip Hospital was made to reduce transmission within the hospital and the surrounding community.
“A number of wards are currently closed due to infection, and we need the support and understanding of our communities to limit further spread,” she said.
Daniel added that teams were treating affected patients, employees and contacts while carrying out deep cleaning in the wards under established infection prevention and control procedures.
“Scabies is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate, and we are grateful to everyone for their continued support,” she said.
The health board said it would contact anyone whose planned care might be affected by the outbreak. Services at the hospital’s minor injury unit are not included in the restrictions.
