Netherlands scabies outbreak spikes, health agencies test new treatment app

Scabies cases in the Netherlands have risen sharply, with the incidence now about eleven times higher than fifteen years ago. Data from Nivel show the rate increasing from 0.6 per 1,000 people to 6.8 per 1,000. The infestation, caused by a mite that burrows under the skin, leads to severe itching, sleep loss and psychological distress.

Epidemiologist Wilma Stolk of Erasmus MC and GGD Rotterdam‑Rijnmond explains that transmission occurs through prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact, while brief contact such as handshakes poses little risk. Treatment requires either multiple doses of ivermectin or a demanding topical cream applied from jawline to toe for twelve hours, with about 30% of patients failing the first attempt. To improve adherence, a new mobile app guiding patients through a twelve‑day hygiene and medication protocol is being trialled among university students after summer, while GGD Utrecht prepares a visual guide for faster diagnosis.

The cause of the surge remains unclear; possible factors include increased travel, climate change or reduced mite susceptibility to drugs. Health authorities stress strict hygiene of bedding, clothing and furniture, and simultaneous treatment of close contacts to prevent reinfection.