Head lice are transmitted by direct head to head contact with an infested person or by sharing hats, scarves, headphones, combs and other hair accessories. They can't hop, jump or fly. But they can crawl fast.
Released June 17, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – Head lice affect more than 12 million people a year. Most are children, parents or school staff. To help cut down on their numbers, University of Georgia entomologists are working to educate school systems on the best way to control the head-scratching pests.
Paul Guillebeau cringes when he hears stories of school personnel spraying pesticides in classrooms and on buses to control head lice.
"If your child's school does this, ask them to stop immediately," said Guillebeau, a UGA Cooperative Extension entomologist. "These applications don't help control head lice populations. They just expose the children and staff to needless pesticide risks."
--continued on University of Georgia news
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