Dutch scabies cases stay elevated as treatment proves difficult

Cases of scabies remain stubbornly high in the Netherlands, occurring more than 11 times as often last year as 15 years earlier. Current rates of 6.8 cases per 1,000 residents are still far above the 0.6 cases recorded then and only modestly lower than the 2023 peak of 10.2, according to figures from research institute Nivel. Treatment remains complicated, as no single solution exists. Public health services plan to intensify education during upcoming student introduction weeks while testing a new guidance app.