Herald - lantern - Dispatch 18 December '85 3

Scabies ' Epidemic ' A Rumor

COURT HOUSE — Rumors at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital last week had employes and patients infested with scabies, before inspectors from the county and state Health departments found the facility clear of it on Thursday. On Tuesday, hospital spokeswoman Joanne Oxley told this newspaper it was a "nonstory." On Thursday, she said it was a "major scare" because of "hysterical reactions." "People get upset about something that really wasn't an epidemic," Oxley said. A female patient Fire Board Meetings COURT HOUSE - The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire District 1 of Middle Township has released the dates for its mandated meetings for 1986. The meetings will be held at the fire house. 10 S. Boyd St., at 8 p.m. except as noted: January 13, 1986; Feb. 10, Feb. 15. from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the purpose of holding the annual meeting and election; March 10, April 14, May 12. June 9, June 14, Aug. 11. Sept. 8. Oct. 13, Nov. 10. Dec. 8. Jchocolate^ Q? Palate if) SHOPPES <3S UJ of BIO GRANDE q1*) ^ 886-6700

diagnosed as having scabies Dec. 9 was isolated and treated and any staff members who came into contact with her were examined for the infestation, according to Barabara J. Rasmussen, vice president in charge of nursing. Only one nurse was found to have scabies; test results for a second nurse were "questionable," she said. Both were treated and cleared. The patient died Friday morning from a combination of illnesses. On Tuesday, Rasmussen closed the second floor North, where the patient was being treated. Closing a floor means no new patients are admitted. Rasmussen said the action was appropriate at the time. I made that decision as a preventive measure," she said. "When the lady was diagnosed we implemented emergency procedures until we could determine whether we had an outbreak." But the emergency action apparently caused great concern. An anonymous caller, who claimed to be a nurse on the "contaminated" floor, told this newspaper that "98 percent" of the employes on that floor "are itching and scratching or treating their children for scabies." "That's not true," Rasmussen said. "We had the one nurse, who had it, and the one who was questionable. Both have been treated and are clear." Rasmussen said the hysterical reactions were the result of an "unintentional" breakdown of communication between management and employes. "It was a learning experience for us." Oxley , said. "It showed us what we could do to prevent a similar situation in the future." ' "The problem was that a lot of employes overreacted and got hyper," I Rasmussen said. "Some were even self-medicating themselves." Rasmussen said scabies | is treated with a lotion containing pesticides. "It's almost like putting kerosene on your skin," she i said. "We found that some of the employes had applied it four or five times, which caused dermatological problems."

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Rasmussen said personnel on the floor were given protective clothing, such as cover gowns and gloves, to ensure the disease didn't spread. Scabies is caused by tiny itch mites, less than a milimeter long, which crawl into the skin and cause itching and a rash. The female lay their eggs in the skin. When the eggs hatch and the mites mature, they crawl outside to breed. Rasmussen said humans are the only hosts of the mites and, unlike parasites, they don't live off the host. The mites don't burrow into wood or have the ability to jump like fleas, making it impossible for them to infect an entire room or building, she said. The only way to get infested, she added, was through close personal contact and, unless the mites are disturbed, they will remain on the host. Occasional cases of scabies are not unusual in hospitals or nursing homes, Rasmussen said. 33 Earn Honors At WCH NORTH WILDWOOD - Nine students were named for First Honors at Wildwood Catholic High School for the first quarter. Twenty-four others earned second honors. On the First Honor Roll are: Patricia* Canally, senior; Cathryn Caruso and Maria Bilotti. juniors; Christine Gawel, Shannon Quinn and Stephanie Souchak, sophomores; Allison Koenig. Michelle Moore, and Andrew Brannen, freshmen. Selected for Second Honors were: Michelle Brzyski. Susan Grayson. Mina Pittakas, Ann Mane McCar thy. Larry Murphy. Megan Gallagher. Jennifer Baumann, Beth Checket, Nancy Haig. Seniors Jackie Steady. Stacey Carter. Laura DiGiovanni. Bill Shinn, Laura McDonald. Gloria Pizza. Juniors Jennifer Dever. Keith Crafton. Theresa Ward, sophomores Joseph Quinn. Kristy Quinn. Sean McGrath. Sheila DiMarco, James Arsenault. Macny Beiseigel. freshmen Bloodmobile Session Set COURT HOUSE - Residents of this community I are urged to give the "gift I of life" at a bloodmobile " session scheduled for 12:30-5:30 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 1 Church St. The county chapter of the American Red Cross points out that anyone between I I the ages of 17 (in New C Jersey, 17-year-olds must 3 have parental consent) and L 65 who weighs at least 110 & pounds and is in healthy t condition, is probably able V to donate. I To schedule an ap- | pointment, call the Red t Cross at 646-7000. Donors 9 can also go to the church at [ their convenience.

Helping Hand For The Holidays "To everything there is s season ... " The spirit of the holiday season pervades our homes, our lives and our hearts. While this is a time of ahundancy for many people, it can also be a time of poignancy and despair for others. Each year the Herald newspapers run a Helping Hand feature that tells about some of the needs of people and organizations in our area. Gifts of donated items, volunteer time and money are always needed. This is the season to bestow blessings ... — Libby Demp Forrest Doris Ward SANTA'S HELPERS — - Susan Senior, activity representative, accepts gifts from John and Nicole Heckel at McDonald's Court House. The gifts are to be distributed to area needy. John and Nicole are the children of Dr. and Mrs. John Heckel Jr. of Court House. Familiar stopping places are outreach locations this Christmas to deposit gifts for the needy in Cape May County. Cape Human Resources Inc., radio station WBNJ-FM and McDonald's are sponsoring Christmas "Love Trees" where wrapped holiday gifts and canned foods may be left until Dec. 23. The decorated trees, provided by K-Mart, are located at WBNJ, 233 North Main StreetPost Office Professional Plaza, Court House; in the Rio Mall, outside of K-Mart; and at participating McDonald's in Wildwood and Court House. Cape Human Resources will pick up and distribute the food and gifts by Christmas to families whose holidays will be made brighter by the eztTa caring of area residents. If you have a little time to help in the preparation and/or distribution of gifts contact Midge at Cape Human Resources Inc., 729-4902 or JerTy Littenberg at WBNJ-FM, 105.5 FM. at 465-2044. Watch Your Yields Grow In a Longer-Term Certificate of Deposit LENGTH OF CURRENT ANNUAL TEEM INTEREST YIELD 5 years 10.05% 10.43%* 3 years 9.50% 9.84%* ~ Minimum Deposit $500 ~AU Deposits Insured Up to $100.000 by FSUC" " Quarterly compounding Substantial Interest Penalty tor Early Certificate Withdrawal Ask Us About Our Other Rates & Terms if Stoqe Harbor — 368 291 1 • Aval on - 967-7541 Denmsville - 861-5152 • North Cape May - 884-5656 rMJIr Cape May Court House — 465-2700 I— — - 5 -