Overview
- Hywel Dda University Health Board closed Steffan Ward at Glangwili Hospital on Thursday to manage an outbreak involving a rare form of scabies.
- All patients and staff identified as contacts have been informed and offered treatment, with therapy offered even to those without symptoms to reduce onward spread.
- The health board has implemented enhanced infection‑prevention measures, increased monitoring and specialist-team support on the ward while admissions and transfers remain paused.
- NHS guidance cited in coverage explains scabies is caused by mites, spreads through prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact, and that a rare, highly contagious crusted (Norwegian) scabies can affect people with weakened immune systems.
- Local officials say rising scabies prevalence across parts of the Hywel Dda area is contributing to hospital outbreaks and the ward will reopen only when infection‑control guidance says it is safe.