Four VTA bus drivers reportedly infected with scabies

April 12-- Apr. 12--SAN JOSE -- The first reported case of a VTA driver being infected with scabies occurred Saturday, according to Brandi Childress, a VTA spokeswoman. Since then, three more drivers reported to have the skin infection.

As of Friday morning, the VTA has not received any reports of passengers being infected, Childress said.

VTA officials send a notice to employees about the condition and how it's contracted, Childress said.

"We wanted to calm some of the anxiety," Childress said.

The VTA reviewed what buses the drivers had operated and pulled 12 out of service Thursday for a deep cleaning, Childress said.

"Cloth seats will be vacuumed, steam cleaned and hard surface areas will be wiped down with diluted bleach," Childress said.

Officials with the drivers' union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The infestation on skin is caused when the microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Scabies usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies," according to the CDC website. "Contact generally must be prolonged; a quick handshake or hug usually will not spread scabies."

"The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash," according to the CDC website. "The scabies mite usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies."

The bus operators were placed on paid leave to allow time for antibiotics to get in their system, Childress said.

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