Solving a mighty mite problem

Abstract

Scabies is an extremely itchy skin disease caused by infestation of the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Incidence of scabies was estimated globally at 455 million per year, causing 3.8 million years lived with disability, and our Pacific region is one of the most affected areas in the world. Scabies is primarily transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, where the female mite burrows into the skin, causing a hypersensitivity reaction on the trunk and limbs. Scabies is often labelled as a disease of poverty and overcrowding. Spread requires close personal contact, resulting from crowded housing conditions and institutional settings such as prisons, schools, hospitals, and care homes. Stepping into the shoes of a wealthy philanthropist with unlimited funds, there is great opportunity to correct this problem of scabies in the New Zealand-Australia-Pacific area. In order to reach as close to elimination as possible, a five-pronged approach is proposed, as there is no one simple solution.