A school in Devon has closed following an outbreak of a Victorian-era disease.

Cases of scabies have been reported in at least five schools in the county.

Parents of pupils at South Devon College were informed that at least seven children had contracted the virus.

The school said in an email: ‘We have been notified of seven confirmed cases of scabies amongst our student community. These cases have been diagnosed by a health professional.’

The contagious disease is identifiable by red inflamed crusty skin, causd by mites which burrow into the surface, however it is often misdiagnosed or not spotted until is developed, allowing carriers to spread it unknowingly.

It can also be caught asymptomatically, further increasing the risk of spreading. What is Scabies?

While considered a mild co

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