Leeda.the.Paladin
Well-Known Member
Super Head Lice Now Found in 25 States and on the Rise in Southern Florida
Miami Beach, Florida: With the new, highly resistant strains of head lice recently discovered in at least 25 U.S. states, parents and schooling staffs in Miami and other parts of South Florida are panic-stricken as more and more cases of head lice emerge amongst children.
A report on the super strain and its outspread was released back in 2015 by Kyong Yoon, an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and his team of researchers. However, the bugs were first reported in 2000 and have since multiplied.
Although similar to traditional lice, the new strains of bugs are mutated, making them highly resistant to the usual chemical and pesticide treatments used to kill off lice. Pyrethroids, a synthetic version of a compound found in the chrysanthemum flower, have long been the go-to ingredient for lice removal treatments found in drugstores. However, parents have reported that these treatments aren’t nearly as effective anymore, and this is most likely due to the rise of super lice.
Having been exposed to the chemicals for years, the lice have developed an even stronger resistance, nullifying the effectiveness of these treatments. While the news is likely to alarm parents, especially those in southern Florida where several super lice infestations have recently been reported, experts have offered a better solution for getting rid of lice.
Discussing the danger and ineffectiveness of pyrethroid-based treatments and the statement issued by The American Pediculosis Association, Lice Troopers spokesperson confirmed, “None of the over-the-counter or prescription treatments currently available are completely safe, and often do not even kill lice and nits. In fact, repeated use of and reliance upon these chemicals can increase the chances of lice outbreaks and infestations. To avoid a resistant strain of head lice, manual treatments should be used instead to fully remove resistant strains of head lice.”
If done properly, manual removal of lice—both regular and super lice—can be 100% effective, and is a foolproof and safe method for both children and adults. For the sake of convenience and time-effectiveness, parents can also opt for a professional lice removal service to do the job, and thus avoid weeks of persistent combing and checking for lice themselves.
While parents in Miami and surrounding areas may be worried about super lice outbreaks, proper prevention methods can significantly help reduce the outspread of this common childhood condition. Preventative measures include having the children avoid head to head contact, limit sharing personal belongings, and keep their long hair tied back into braids or in a bun.
Miami Beach, Florida: With the new, highly resistant strains of head lice recently discovered in at least 25 U.S. states, parents and schooling staffs in Miami and other parts of South Florida are panic-stricken as more and more cases of head lice emerge amongst children.
A report on the super strain and its outspread was released back in 2015 by Kyong Yoon, an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and his team of researchers. However, the bugs were first reported in 2000 and have since multiplied.
Although similar to traditional lice, the new strains of bugs are mutated, making them highly resistant to the usual chemical and pesticide treatments used to kill off lice. Pyrethroids, a synthetic version of a compound found in the chrysanthemum flower, have long been the go-to ingredient for lice removal treatments found in drugstores. However, parents have reported that these treatments aren’t nearly as effective anymore, and this is most likely due to the rise of super lice.
Having been exposed to the chemicals for years, the lice have developed an even stronger resistance, nullifying the effectiveness of these treatments. While the news is likely to alarm parents, especially those in southern Florida where several super lice infestations have recently been reported, experts have offered a better solution for getting rid of lice.
Discussing the danger and ineffectiveness of pyrethroid-based treatments and the statement issued by The American Pediculosis Association, Lice Troopers spokesperson confirmed, “None of the over-the-counter or prescription treatments currently available are completely safe, and often do not even kill lice and nits. In fact, repeated use of and reliance upon these chemicals can increase the chances of lice outbreaks and infestations. To avoid a resistant strain of head lice, manual treatments should be used instead to fully remove resistant strains of head lice.”
If done properly, manual removal of lice—both regular and super lice—can be 100% effective, and is a foolproof and safe method for both children and adults. For the sake of convenience and time-effectiveness, parents can also opt for a professional lice removal service to do the job, and thus avoid weeks of persistent combing and checking for lice themselves.
While parents in Miami and surrounding areas may be worried about super lice outbreaks, proper prevention methods can significantly help reduce the outspread of this common childhood condition. Preventative measures include having the children avoid head to head contact, limit sharing personal belongings, and keep their long hair tied back into braids or in a bun.
Let me just say that we had a social gathering FULL of people we didn't know and my baby got infected and I was in pure denial for awhile because I, too, thought black folks couldn't get lice. Well it happened to us and it went on for so long because she would complain about itching and I would check and never saw anything until they got to their absolute worst and you couldn't miss it. The thread with our experience is here somewhere. I tell y'all all my business in hopes that it helps someone if they should ever be in the same shoes someday.
