Hudson Valley School Warns Parents of Possible Scabies Outbreak

Parents of students at one Hudson Valley Middle School received a letter on Friday that would make anyone's skin crawl.

The letter informed parents and guardians that a student at Kenneth L. Rutherford was diagnosed on February 26 with scabies. The Monticello Central School District has also posted the announcement on their website.

For those who are unfamiliar with scabies, it's a highly contagious disease that's caused by an infestation of itch mites. The microscopic mites burrow under the skin where they live and lay eggs. According to the CDC, symptoms include a pimple-like rash and extreme itchiness.

It's important to note that most people who become infected with scabies usually don't show any symptoms for 2-6 weeks. During that time, however, they can still transmit the mites and spread scabies to others. For this reason, parents are being asked to be extra cautious if their children have had extended skin contact with other students at Kenneth L. Rutherford Middle School.

There are no over-the-counter medications that can be used to treat scabies, but some prescription medications can be applied all over the body to eliminate the mites.

The CDC has more information available on their website for anyone who believes they may have come in contact with scabies.