Health officials: Hundreds of inmates treated for scabies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Health officials say hundreds of inmates are being treated for what appears to be scabies, causing delays in court hearings and even one murder trial as criminal justice officials fight to keep it from spreading to the courthouse and beyond.
The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/2qGl0xS ) Nashville Health Department officials say about 320 inmates have been treated for the parasite. Officials say the outbreak at a privately-run jail is keeping female inmates from court hearings temporarily.
A spokeswoman for private prison company CoreCivic, which used to be known as Corrections Corporation of America, said inmates with and without symptoms will be treated if they are housed close to the affected area.
Scabies is caused by a skin infestation of parasites that burrow into the skin and cause itching.