The Ministry of Health has announced significant progress in managing a scabies outbreak at an Islamic boarding school in Brufut, first reported on May 26, 2025. The outbreak, which affected 57 students, prompted a swift and coordinated response from the Ministry and its partners, including the Gambia Immigration Department, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, the Child Protection Alliance, WHO, UNICEF, and the MRC Unit in The Gambia.
All 57 affected students have received medical treatment and are showing significant improvement, with ongoing monitoring to ensure full recovery. To facilitate thorough fumigation, disinfection, and sanitation of the school, all 102 resident children were temporarily relocated. The Ministry’s efforts have extended beyond the affected school, with enhanced surveillance and outreach in nearby schools and communities. No new cases have been reported outside the previously identified second school in Brufut, according to the Ministry of Health.
Health education initiatives have been a cornerstone of the response. Sensitization sessions with students, school authorities, and community leaders have focused on improving hygiene practices and raising awareness about preventing scabies and other skin conditions. The Ministry’s Rapid Response Team remains on high alert, ready to provide technical support and ensure early detection of any new cases.
As the festive Tobaski period approaches, the Ministry urges the public to maintain high hygiene standards to prevent further outbreaks. Key preventive measures include seeking prompt medical care for children with itching or rashes, daily bathing, changing clothes regularly, washing bedding and towels in hot water, and drying them in direct sunlight. The public is also advised to avoid direct contact with individuals who are affected until they have received full treatment.
The Ministry expressed gratitude for the cooperation of parents, school authorities, and partners in containing the outbreak. “We remain committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all children in The Gambia,” the Health Ministry said in a press statement.
For further information or to report suspected cases, the public is encouraged to contact the toll-free hotline at 1025.
The successful containment of this outbreak highlights the effectiveness of collaborative public health interventions and underscores the importance of community vigilance in maintaining public health standards.
