Dozens of employees and residents of a Martin County assisted living center have been treated for scabies after an outbreak last week.

Forty one employees and 41 residents of the Williamston House in Williamston were treated after it was confirmed that two women residents had the skin disease, according to the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department.

Scabies is an easily spread skin disease caused by very small mites that burrow into the skin and deposit their eggs. It is mostly spread by direct contact with infected people.

Since the outbreak was discovered on Wednesday, a crew has been cleaning out the facility. That crew is leaving today. Visitors have been asked not to visit until the center is cleaned.

The health department says while it is pretty common for a scabies outbreak to happen, this is the first one this year in Martin County.