Investigation and response to a scabies outbreak in a rural community in Biakoye District Ghana May 2025

Investigation and response to a scabies outbreak in a rural community in Biakoye District Ghana May 2025 | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Investigation and response to a scabies outbreak in a rural community in Biakoye District Ghana May 2025 Eyram Kuma Hanu, Felix Dolla Dimado, Benjamin Tetteh Hansen, Lavish Emmanuel Aformaleh, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7657946/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 2 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Background Scabies, a neglected tropical disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis , remains underreported in rural Ghana. In May 2025, a scabies outbreak was reported in Appiahkrom village, Biakoye District. We investigated to confirm the outbreak, determine its magnitude and source, identify risk factors, and implement control measures. Methods A field investigation was conducted between 20–24 May 2025. A descriptive epidemiological design was used. Case definitions were applied (suspected, probable, confirmed). The index case was laboratory-confirmed by skin scraping microscopy. House-to-house searches, structured interviews, and clinical examinations were performed. Data were analyzed by person, place, and time. Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin was implemented for cases and contacts. Results Nine cases were identified across three households (attack rate: 3%). Children < 18 years represented 55.6% of cases. The epidemic curve suggested a propagated pattern of transmission, consistent with person-to-person spread. Shared sleeping spaces and close household contacts were identified as key risk factors. The outbreak source was linked to visitors from Accra with visible rashes. Following ivermectin-based MDA and community sensitization, no new cases were reported two weeks post-intervention. Conclusion This investigation confirmed a scabies outbreak affecting nine individuals in Appiahkrom village, with children most affected. Close household contact and overcrowded living conditions facilitated transmission. Early detection, ivermectin-based MDA, and health education successfully contained the outbreak. Strengthening community surveillance and integrating routine skin health checks into CHPS services are critical for prevention. Scabies outbreak investigation neglected tropical disease Ghana ivermectin community health Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Linelistscabiesspringnature.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 2 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 07 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 06 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 25 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Oct, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Oct, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Oct, 2025 First submitted to journal 27 Oct, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7657946","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Short Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":560734143,"identity":"fcd915c9-d9d9-11f0-907b-06cc9d20a69f","order_by":0,"name":"Eyram Kuma 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In May 2025, a scabies outbreak was reported in Appiahkrom village, Biakoye District. We investigated to confirm the outbreak, determine its magnitude and source, identify risk factors, and implement control measures.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA field investigation was conducted between 20\u0026ndash;24 May 2025. A descriptive epidemiological design was used. Case definitions were applied (suspected, probable, confirmed). The index case was laboratory-confirmed by skin scraping microscopy. House-to-house searches, structured interviews, and clinical examinations were performed. Data were analyzed by person, place, and time. Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin was implemented for cases and contacts.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNine cases were identified across three households (attack rate: 3%). Children\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;18 years represented 55.6% of cases. The epidemic curve suggested a propagated pattern of transmission, consistent with person-to-person spread. Shared sleeping spaces and close household contacts were identified as key risk factors. The outbreak source was linked to visitors from Accra with visible rashes. Following ivermectin-based MDA and community sensitization, no new cases were reported two weeks post-intervention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis investigation confirmed a scabies outbreak affecting nine individuals in Appiahkrom village, with children most affected. Close household contact and overcrowded living conditions facilitated transmission. Early detection, ivermectin-based MDA, and health education successfully contained the outbreak. Strengthening community surveillance and integrating routine skin health checks into CHPS services are critical for prevention.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Investigation and response to a scabies outbreak in a rural community in Biakoye District Ghana May 2025","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":2,"date":"2025-12-15 17:30:48","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7657946/v2","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision 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