Is scabies contagious?
Scabies and human mites are contagious. If you have scabies, you can spread mites to other people before and after you develop symptoms, for as long as you remain infested and untreated. It takes several weeks from the time of initial infestation for scabies symptoms to develop (incubation period). People who become reinfested develop symptoms within a few days. Scabies and human mites may stay alive from 4-7 days off of the body without a host. All garments, rugs, bedding, chairs, and shoes must be washed or treated against the mites to prevent reinfection.
