Life for students at Harvard University’s Pennypacker Hall was interrupted by aggressive decontamination efforts after tiny mites crawled into the skin of three students, causing an outbreak of scabies.

“Unfortunately, scabies is something that occurs when people live in close proximity to each other,” said Harvard University Health Services Chief of Medicine Dr. Soheyla Gharib. “It is not uncommon to see it at schools.”

Scabies is a common and highly contagious skin infestation caused by a parasitic mite that burrows under the skin to lay eggs, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It first shows up as a rash with bumps or burrows on the skin and spreads by prolonged contact or sharing clothing, bedding or towels.

Gharib said the school immediately handed out insecticide cream and advised Pennypacker residents to wash all bedding, towels and clothing.

“Harvard was very helpful and provided all of the students in the dorm with cream for treatment and information about the disease,” said freshman and Pennypacker resident Jack Clayton. “After we found out about the outbreak, the school sent in people to vacuum all of our dorms, and we were all required to cover ourselves with the cream they provided.”

Though HUHS promptly notified and aided all Pennypacker residents, the school did a poor job informing the rest of the student body about the infestation, students said.

“I wouldn’t mind an email telling us what happened and how we can protect ourselves. If my cousin wasn’t in Pennypacker I probably would have never found out,” said Harvard sophomore Kevin Suehnholz. “There was a big crowded party this weekend in my house that I saw at least three Pennypacker kids at, so I am hoping we are not next.”

Boston University Student Health Services Director Dr. David McBride said preventing an initial scabies outbreak is impossible because a student can be exposed to the mites anywhere and unknowingly spread the infestation.

“To prevent spread, people with the infestation need to be treated along with their close living companions, even if the roommates are without symptoms,” McBride said.

There have been no recent scabies infestations at BU, but outbreaks are common, he said.

“We see periodic cases every year,” McBride said. “I’m quite certain there have been clusters of cases at BU. . . . It is a completely harmless infestation. It has no real implication to one’s health, other than the annoying itch.”