There is one confirmed case of a particularly infectious form of scabies at Health Sciences North—and eight other employees have been treated for symptoms.

Scabies is "caused by a mite... and is transmitted from person to person by skin-to-skin contact. The more parasites that are on a person, the greater the chance for spread," according to the Canadian Pediatric Society.

Hospital spokesman Dan Lessard has confirmed there is one case of Norwegian scabies and that person has been put into isolation.

"Persons with crusted [or Norwegian] scabies are very contagious to other persons and can spread the the scabies easily both by direct skin-to-skin contact and by contamination of items such as their clothing, bedding, and furniture," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.

Lessard also said Monday morning that eight other hospital employees have been treated for symptoms.

The Norwegian strain is highly contagious and is characterized by the formation of large scabs on the skin.

Lessard said infection control procedures have been implemented.