By Troy Torres
(Tumon, Guam) At least two people who were forced to stay at the Pacific Star Hotel reported to the Department of Public Health and Social Services and Kandit News that they contracted Scabies after staying at the hotel.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
"Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. Intense itching occurs in the area where the mite burrows. The urge to scratch may be especially strong at night.
"Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact in a family, child care group, school class, nursing home or prison. Because scabies is so contagious, doctors often recommend treatment for entire families or contact groups.
"Scabies can be readily treated. Medications applied to your skin kill the mites that cause scabies and their eggs. But you may still have some itching for several weeks after treatment."
"I don't know about a report on that, but that's something that would be reported with DPHSS, not with us here at the hotel," Guam Housing Corporation president and Pacific Star resident quarantine co-manager Alice Taijeron told Kandit in an interview.
The Governor's Office still has not answered Kandit's question about the matter in an email sent Wednesday morning. Chief of staff Jon Junior Calvo told Kandit he instructed communications staff assistant Carlo Branch and director Janela Carrera to answer our inquiries.
They so far have ignored his orders.
Ms. Taijeron did address other issues of sanitation at the hotel. "We're aware of the issues regarding rooms that need to be cleaned, and actually Rebecca (Respicio) and I have had to clean these rooms ourselves," Ms. Taijeron said.
Several people who have been forced to stay at the hotel have complained of moist and moldy carpets, sheets with yellow and brown stains, beds with a putrid odor, and ventilation systems that don't work.
"We've raised these concerns with the hotel," she said.
Room 1909
Ms. Taijeron also admitted that she and Ms. Respicio are staying in the hotel's room 1909, also known as its presidential suite.
She said no other government officials aside from nurses are staying at the hotel.
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