'Super Lice' Spreads Across the US: List of States, Facts, Treatment & Other Details Here

There is a threat of a widespread super lice infestation across the United States. The bugs have reportedly been found in at least 29 states.

Scientists who specialize in lice populations said that the parasites have been discovered in several states and have turned into creatures that are resistant to usual over-the-counter medications.

The lice have “knock-down resistant mutations” which means that these went through genetic alterations that rendered them immune to common permethrin treatments, Patch reported.

Some of the infested states are Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Virginia, Massachusetts, the Carolinas, Connecticut and Illinois. The findings have been reported to the American Chemical Society. In New Mexico, New York, New Jersey and Oregon, lice developed partial resistance to treatments. Some lice populations were undergoing mutations that allowed them to survive exposure to insecticides like pyrethoids that are frequently used to treat infestations among adults and children.

“What we found was that 104 out of the 109 lice populations we tested had high levels of gene mutations, which have been linked to resistance to pyrethroids,” said Kyong Yoon, Ph.D., a researcher from Southern Illinois University.

“They just want to give up. If that bug is crawling around the head and then someone is giving hugs, sharing hairbrushes, or by that person, that bug can transfer like that,” said Renee Wilson, manager of Hair Fairies, about parents getting frustrated about over-the-counter products that do not work.

Pix11 reported that Doris Day, an attending physician at Lenox Hills Hospital, stated that bugs of all kinds will become resistant to the current available treatments.

Dr. Day added that they do have effective prescription strength products that can alleviate the condition. She suggested that people try drug store products first before asking for prescription insecticide. Another approach to prevent the infestation is to wash all clothes and beddings in hot water and to vacuum well. Parents have to be more vigilant in preventing super lice from reaching their children. Kids that already have the head lice should use the proper treatments to stay safe.

Yoon warned people in the same Patch report that using a chemical again and again will help the little creatures develop resistance over time. The good news is that head lice do not carry disease. These are more of a nuisance and will not lead to life-threatening effects.

More news and updates on the super lice spread are expected in the following weeks.