Some of the affected districts are; Lilongwe, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and Mchinji where health facilities are recording an increase in the number of people affected by the itchy disease spread by mites.

In Mzimba district, for example, the main public hospital is registering over 20 cases of the disease each day.

Mzimba South district dermatologist, Dan Kwacha, told Zodiak Online Thursday that the problem may worsen as there are no drugs at the facility.

“We are facing increased cases of scabies in Malawi; and Mzimba district in particular has also been affected very much,” said Kwacha adding “From October last year we have been having these increased cases but we did not treat this as alarming because we were able to control it”.

However, the outbreak increased in January, according to Kwacha.

Kwacha said as health workers they are advising patients to stick to basic hygiene as the only remedy for a disease in the absence of drugs.

“Central medical stores trust doesn't have the medication. It’s really a challenge,” said Kwacha adding things have been this way for four months.

Ministry of health spokesperson, Joshua Malango, asked for more time to liaise with authorities from affected districts to be able to comment.

Scabies is a skin infection caused by tiny mites which if left untreated, can live on the surface of the skin for months leading into itching and red rashes.