News
Lice plagues UW-SP students during trip abroad
The Pointer
jmath438@uwsp.edu
A few cases of head lice that were brought in by students returning from a mission trip were spread to other students at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
“I wouldn’t call it an outbreak or anything like that,” said Joe Totman, director of Residential Living.
According to Totman, a number of students who had just returned from a mission trip to Panama were the initial hosts of the pestilence. After a student discovered they were infested with lice, they contacted University Health Services. Health Services proceeded to treat the student and notify the other students from the mission trip along with people that were close to them. This included roommates, boyfriends and girlfriends.
Since the majority of the students affected by the lice were in Burroughs Hall, extra cleaning was ordered in the residence hall. Extra vacuuming and lice cleaning spray was applied in all public areas of the hall.
Since the initial discovery and treatment of the lice, no more cases have been reported to Health Services.
“Overall, I think there were probably around 14 total cases,” Totman said.
UW-SP Health Services located in Delzell Hall offers solutions for students if they do discover they have head lice.
“A few people with concerns went to Health Services,” Totman said.
“We run a comprehensive outpatient clinic for UW-SP students,” said Bill Hettler, director of University Health Services, “Diagnosing and treating illness including lice is what we do.”
Hettler also recommends following the Center for Disease Control’s tip to prevent contracting lice from others.
The CDC states, “Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
Lice are spread most commonly by direct head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact and much less frequently by sharing clothing or belongings onto which lice or nits may have crawled or fallen.
Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons or barrettes.
Do not share infested combs, brushes or towels.
Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, rugs, carpets or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.
To help control a head lice outbreak in a community, school, or camp, people can be taught to avoid activities that may spread head lice.”
