What to Know
- A second case of suspected scabies is being investigated at another Queens firehouse, the FDNY tells News 4.
- FDNY says new case involves member recently detailed to Engine 320, the site of the first scabies scare, and was now serving at Engine 251
- The FDNY says both the members of both affected firehouses will still be responding to alarms in their coverage areas
A second case of suspected scabies is being investigated at another Queens firehouse, the FDNY tells News 4.
The latest suspected case, revealed Friday afternoon at Engine 251 in Glen Oaks, follows the relocation of Engine 320 and Ladder 167 from their firehouse in Auburndale.
The FDNY tells News 4 this new case involves a member who was recently detailed to Engine 320 -- the site of the first scabies scare -- and was now serving at Engine 251.
That person displayed symptoms of scabies and is being treated. The other members of that company will undergo evaluations by medical personnel.
Operations for this firehouse will be relocated to a neighboring firehouse while decontamination takes place sometime Saturday, according to fire officials.
On Friday morning, the FDNY revealed the initial case of scabies, which was found at the firehouse for Engine 320. They said involved one person and was not deemed an outbreak or infestation.
Local
That firehouse, which has about 60 firefighters assigned, is not closed or shutdown, the FDNY said, but rather is currently not in use and the companies have been moved to other houses while the firehouse is being cleaned.
The FDNY says both the members of both affected firehouses will still be responding to alarms in their coverage areas.
Scabies is a human skin condition caused by an infestation of tiny mites that burrow under the skin, according to the city's health department. Scabies infestation causes the skin to become irritated, itchy, and to develop a rash around the site of infestation. The rash results from an allergic reaction to the secretions of the mites.
