More than 200 children from various primary schools in George were sent to a local clinic with itching and rash-like symptoms.
Despite the symptoms, Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Nadia Ferreira said no specific cause was given.
By midmorning, Thembalethu Primary school in George had taken to Facebook to make an empathetic plea to parents to fetch the pupils.
“Parents help us, come fetch your kids because they are crying saying that they are itchy and we are overwhelmed,” read one post.
Another said: “We cannot call all of you guys, there are too many children- please meet us halfway.
“We have already taken some to the clinic.”
By afternoon, Ferreira said all children had been examined and a few were diagnosed with scabies.
She said most of the children were healthy and no specific cause for itching could be determined.
The learners were treated with antihistamines, creams where appropriate.
Schools have also been urged to stop sending children to the clinics as they were struggling to control the crowd.
The Department of Education in the Western Cape said they were aware of the reported cases of alleged scabies in both Oudtshoorn and George.
“WCED has been in contact with local and provincial health authorities and is getting advice to treat the affected learners,” she said.
The environmental health practitioner (EHP) team are visiting the schools to assess the cause as bird lice, other lice, ticks or fleas could also be the cause.
Scabies is an
