Scabies cases surge in Queensland as cost of living adds pressure
Doctors report a sharp rise in scabies cases across Queensland, possibly driven by cost-of-living pressures forcing more people into shared housing.
A Brisbane mother has spent six months battling scabies with her family. The family lives with plastic bedding and sealed clothes to manage the infestation.
Dermatologists say they're seeing a real uptick in cases right now. Experts believe the cost-of-living crisis is fueling the surge, since people live in closer quarters where mites spread faster.
Current treatments don't kill scabies eggs, leaving patients stuck in cycles of reinfection. QIMR Berghofer researchers are testing a new single-dose drug that could be the first fresh treatment in 30 years.
Scabies isn't notifiable in Queensland, so exact numbers are hard to track, but doctors estimate thousands across the state are currently infected.
- 6 months
- Jones family affected for
- 30 years
- Years since last new treatment
- Thousands
- Estimated infected across Queensland
- No
- Scabies notifiable in Queensland
Why it mattersThe outbreak signals health gaps in responses to financial hardship, and new treatment options are urgently needed to break cycles of infection and stigma.
AustraliaThousands of Queenslanders are struggling with untreated or recurring scabies infections, with new treatment options still months away from approval.
