It's been a lousy week

A thorough search of follicle forest was conducted at the Sisters Middle/High School as school officials attempted to curtail an outbreak of head lice.

Two students were discovered to have head lice on Wednesday, February 21. A couple more showed up with the critters the next day, and a couple more the day after that, according to school officials.

Lice are caught either through direct contact or indirect contact such as the sharing of clothing, combs, brushes, ribbons or earphones. While lice do not jump or fly, they can crawl 12 inches in one minute.

After 24 students were discovered to be hosting the tiny bugs, school officials decided to examine the scalps of all students on Thursday, February 29 to prevent a major outbreak. Only three more cases were detected, bringing the total to 27, according to school principal Dennis Dempsey.

Head lice are parasites that feed on human blood and lay eggs on human hair. A louse is about the size of a sesame seed and ranges in color from tan to grayish-black. They have six claw-like legs.

A letter sent home with students explained that anyone can be infested with head lice, "rich, poor, young or old. They are easily spread in families, classrooms, day cares, etc."

Lice can even be caught from upholstered surfaces like car or bus seats, but do not breed on household pets.

While the lice themselves can be difficult to see, they cement their eggs, called nits, to the hair shaft around the nape of the neck and around the ears. A female louse can lay 150-300 nits in her lifetime. These tiny, teardrop shaped sacs are whitish in color and very difficult to remove.

There are several products on the market that kill lice, but they MUST be used according to directions for safety and effectiveness.

Households usually need a through cleaning when lice are found, including washing in hot water all bedding and clothing. Commercial sprays are available to treat furniture and other non-washable items.

For more information, contact your doctor or pharmacist. The school district has sent home information with students.