Highly Contagious Form of Scabies Detected in Netherlands
A case of crusted scabies, a highly contagious and severe form of the skin infection, has been identified in a patient at the Flevo Hospital in Almere, Netherlands, on February 11, 2026. This finding highlights the importance of vigilance in recognizing and containing infectious diseases, even common ones like scabies.
Hospital officials have taken immediate steps to prevent further spread of the infection, following national guidelines. The affected patient is currently being isolated, and no additional cases have been confirmed as of February 15, 2026. Individuals who have been in contact with the patient have been notified and provided with information regarding preventative treatment, either personally, by phone, or via letter.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, a parasite that burrows into the skin. The most common symptom is intense itching. While scabies is relatively common worldwide, crusted scabies is a more severe and highly transmissible form. Transmission can occur through brief contact, sharing a room, or contact with contaminated clothing or bedding.
According to Flevo Hospital’s website, the female mite is very small and often invisible to the naked eye. It creates tunnels in the outer layer of skin to lay eggs. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks after infection and include itchy patches, visible burrows (especially between fingers), small blisters, and crusty skin. The rash often affects the hands, wrists, armpits, sides of the body, feet, and ankles, and can also appear on the genitals in men and around the nipples in women. Young children may experience a rash on their face or scalp.
A particularly severe form, scabiës norvegica, can occur in individuals with weakened immune systems, those taking immunosuppressant medications, or the elderly. This form can involve thousands of mites and often presents with less itching due to the compromised immune response.
Diagnosis is often made by identifying burrows on the hands, or by examining a skin sample under a microscope for mites or eggs. Scabies is typically treated with a permethrin cream, as detailed here.
Hospital officials assure patients and visitors that there is currently no risk of contracting scabies at Flevo Hospital and that they can continue to visit the facility safely. More information about scabies can be found on the thuisarts.nl website.
