Cases of scabies have been reported in Northern Province with Lupososhi District recording the highest number.
Katuta Boarding Secondary school Headteacher, Friday Chanda, tells Diamond News that most pupils are made to stay away from school as a mitigation measure.
He says the school administration suspects overcrowding could be the cause of the disease.
In confirming the cases, Provincial Health Director, Ernest Mutale, says the province has in the recent weeks recorded a good number of scabies cases.
He says most health facilities in Lupososhi are recording on average three new cases in a week.
He adds that the province has since heightened its surveillance and has also been provided with medical supplies from Lusaka for treatment of patients.
The provincial medical director has attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation in most of the communities and the congestion in some weekly boarding schools not practicing good hygiene.
The National Health Service describes scabies as a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin with the main symptoms being intense itching that worsens at night as well as a skin rash on areas where the mites have burrowed.
By Diamond Chitalu