Scabies outbreak triggers school closures in Minas Gerais

A scabies outbreak, commonly known as human itch mite, has led to significant public health measures in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In Lagoa Santa, authorities have suspended municipal school classes until the end of the week and postponed a traditional Children's Day festival to the Christmas period to ensure child safety.

Lagoa Santa reported 50 new cases within a 24-hour period, bringing the total notifications to 241. While municipal schools are affected, state and private schools in the area continue to operate normally. This follows a previous outbreak in Alfenas, which reported over 150 cases in late 2024.

In contrast, the municipality of Poços de Caldas has reported that it has no registered cases of scabies. However, local epidemiological surveillance is actively monitoring the situation and issuing guidance on prevention, such as avoiding prolonged skin contact with infected individuals and not sharing personal items like towels or clothing.