A severe outbreak of scabies, a contagious skin disease, has swept through the Palashpur slum in Barisal city, where 6,149 people live. Over the past month and a half, around 80 percent of the residents there have been infected. The outbreak is not limited to Palashpur — other slums across the city are also seeing transmission in almost every household. Experts warn that the situation could worsen in the summer heat, and the disease is now beginning to spread into residential neighborhoods.

A field visit found that the disease has spread across all 18 major slums in the city, including Stadium Colony, Namar Char, Bhatar Khal, Shishu Park, and BDS slum. Health officials say 80 percent of the slum residents—especially children, women, and the elderly—are infected.

Rubina Khatun, a resident of Palashpur slum, said, “We never had this disease in our slum before. It appeared a few weeks ago and spread very quickly. It starts with itchy bumps, which turn red and ooze when scratched. Then it spreads all over the body. Medicines didn’t work, so we’re now applying neem leaves, jujube leaves, and raw turmeric on our skin.”

Doctors warn that scabies is a highly contagious skin condition, caused by microscopic mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. The disease spreads rapidly in overcrowded and unhygienic environments such as slums, dormitories, and hostels. Without proper awareness, hygiene, treatment, and medical advice, controlling the outbreak becomes difficult.

Scabies is different from other skin issues such as eczema, fungal infections, or allergic reactions. The mites responsible for the disease are invisible to the naked eye. They can reproduce year-round.

Doctors say that the main symptom of scabies is intense itching, which often worsens at night. The infection usually starts with tiny, fluid-filled blisters or bumps that quickly spread when scratched. It can be transmitted through direct skin contact or by sharing clothes, bedding, or towels with an infected person.

Commonly affected areas include the spaces between fingers, skin folds, chest, back, armpits, around the genitals, and the navel. In infants and young children, it can also affect the scalp, face, palms, and soles of the feet.

Dr. Md Rezwan Kaiser, a dermatologist at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal, said, “We used to get scabies patients before. But the number was low. The number has increased significantly over the past few months. We’re concerned that the situation will worsen as the weather gets hotter, and managing a larger number of patients will become challenging. It’s not just about medication, there are certain guidelines patients must follow to recover properly. But most of them don’t. Many stop taking their medicine once the itching goes away. Not just the patients, those around them need to be more cautious too.”

Another dermatologist in Barisal, Dr. Harun-or-Rashid, said that the number of people seeking treatment for scabies has increased many times over compared to before. He believes the situation is worsening because many patients do not complete their prescribed course of medication.

The infection, which began in the city’s slums, is now spreading into other residential areas. Despite this, the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) has yet to take any visible steps to address the issue.

Dr. Khandaker Manzrul Imam, BCC’s health officer, said, “Scabies cases have surged in these areas, largely due to poor hygiene. We are trying to collaborate with various NGOs to ensure healthcare access for those affected.”

The Directorate General of Health Services in Barisal acknowledged the issue. He said that the disease is spreading from person to person, especially in densely populated areas. He claimed that health services are being extended to the grassroots level to ensure patient care.

Local residents said people in the slums are living in makeshift huts built on government land. Authorities only seem to take notice of them during election season, and otherwise show little concern.

Former councilor Zainal Abedin admitted that slums in Barisal lack even basic facilities like drainage systems. “Whenever we proposed development projects for these slums, the mayors would say the land belongs to the government. During elections, mayoral candidates would scramble for slum dwellers’ votes, but once elected, none of them did anything for their development,” he said.

Barisal’s Divisional Director of Health, Dr. Shyamal Krishna Mondal, said, “We’re getting reports that scabies cases this year are much higher than usual. It’s a contagious disease, and it spreads more easily in crowded areas. We’ve ensured medical services for scabies patients in every upazila. But it’s important that patients follow all medical advice and maintain both hygiene and distance from others.”