The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating a possible scabies outbreak at the veterans home in LaSalle. An alert issued Friday says some patients and staff have a rash. Some patients were temporarily isolated in case it was scabies. The department says the regular protocol is to check residents from head to toe for skin problems and to wash clothing and sheets in water hot enough to kill mites that cause scabies.
Scabies is treatable with prescription lotions. It’s a nuisance and spreads fast in nursing homes, but it’s not deadly.