Overview

Scabies is the third most common neglected tropical disease in the world, affecting about 455 million people every year, with the greatest impact occurring in scabies in children. Scabies can lead to devastating social and health outcomes. It interrupts sleep, reduces quality of life, and often leads to skin infections that can cause life-threatening infections and conditions, including kidney failure and heart disease.

Scabies is a disease of inequality affecting people living in crowded, impoverished conditions, and are widespread in some disadvantaged communities, including remote communities of northern Australia and Pacific Island Nations. Our program is dedicated to reducing the burden of child scabies and its complications for families in these communities.

What we do

Innovative research conducted by researchers has shown that in communities with high levels of scabies cases, the most effective way of reducing the burden is via a community-wide approach called mass drug administration. The World Scabies Program, established in 2019, is working with governments and partners to translate this research and scale these proven strategies to reach entire populations and reduce scabies significantly.

The World Scabies Program is collaborating with Ministries of Health in Fiji and Solomon Islands to implement the first nation-wide mass drug administration programs for scabies in the world. In these two countries, the program is supporting the governments to increase capacity and establish sustainable scabies control programs within the health system.

The World Scabies Program connects with other countries and programs interested in eliminating scabies as a public health problem to provide technical guidance and support. This is the first global program dedicated to the elimination of scabies as a public health problem and is possible thanks to funding by the Macquarie Group Foundation 50th Celebration Awards.

Professor Andrew Steer: World Scabies Elimination Program

10,599 views Sep 30, 2019 Professor Andrew Steer, Director of Infection and Immunity, was thrilled to receive $10m funding from Macquarie Group's 50th Anniversary Award to lead a global program to wipe out. 

More resources

• World Scabies Program
• On a mission to wipe out scabies worldwide
• Reaching Critical Mass to End Scabies
• World Scabies Program holds first National Steering Committee in Fiji

Information for participants

Key elements of the World Scabies Program are:

• support governments and partners to scale-up of mass drug administration strategies for scabies
• increase global awareness on the impact of scabies 
• advocate for affordable and reliable access to effective treatments
• support governments to establishing scabies control programs 
• strengthen health system capacity to manage and monitor the disease 
• partner with communities to reduce the impact on families and livelihoods 
• contribute to mapping of global populations affected by scabies
• raise awareness of scabies as a public health problem

Get involved

The World Scabies Program is keen to connect with other countries, and programs interested in eliminating scabies as a public health problem. Contact us or see our website for more information.

• World Scabies Program