Spanish police report first scabies case among officers deployed to Ceuta

Spain’s National Police has reported a confirmed case of scabies among an officer from a Police Intervention Unit (UIP) deployed to Ceuta, according to the Unified Police Union (SUP).

The union said the case had raised concerns over the possible spread of the infection among officers working in shared vehicles and communal accommodation, El Faro de Ceuta writes.

The SUP said it would urgently ask police health and safety authorities to identify close contacts, assess personnel deployed to Ceuta and disinfect vehicles, accommodation and uniforms.

It also called for health monitoring of officers returning from Ceuta and requested a written response within 48 hours if further cases are identified.

The number of police officers who may have contracted scabies has not been established. Spain’s Interior Ministry has not yet commented.

The report comes after Spain’s Defence Ministry confirmed up to 24 cases of scabies among military personnel in Ceuta. The ministry said the cases were linked to the conditions of the facilities occupied by military personnel, rather than contact with migrants who arrived from Morocco in recent days.

The Confederation of Spanish Police (CEP) has also raised concerns about accommodation used by some UIP officers in Ceuta.

According to the union, officers have reported overcrowding, insufficient toilets, inadequate showers, poor ventilation and mattresses in poor condition. Some units are reportedly staying in rooms with eight bunk beds, with seven or eight officers sharing a room.

Earlier, it was reported that at least 14 Spanish military personnel deployed in Ceuta had contracted scabies, with the Union of Military Personnel (UMT) raising concerns about overcrowded and inadequate accommodation conditions.