“All known areas have been inspected and treated,” the school’s website reads.
WASHINGTON — The University of Maryland is warning students after cases of body lice were reported on campus.
According to the UMD Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk, parts of the campus where the body lice were reported were treated by the university’s pest control management unit.
“All known areas have been inspected and treated,” the school’s website reads. The school did not go into any further detail about which campus areas were impacted.
Body lice are small insects that can live on people’s skin and clothing. They tend to spread through direct contact but can move through contact with clothing, beds, or linens that have been used by someone who has had lice. Those who have body lice often experience itching, rash, and bites.
Treatment for body lice includes washing clothes, bedding, and towels in hot water and drying them on the hottest setting, bathing, regularly vacuuming, and placing items that cannot be washed into a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
The school suggests calling the university health center or a doctor if you have questions or believe you may be experiencing symptoms and need advice.
If you see a problem on campus, the university says to submit a request through the Facilities Service Central portal.
In the meantime, the school shared several tips to stop the spread of lice:
- Do not share clothing, beds, bedding, or towels used by a person with lice.
- Bathe regularly and change into machine-washed clothes at least once a week.
- Machine wash and dry infested clothing and bedding using the hot water (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle.
- Dry clean clothing and items that are not washable, or seal them in a plastic bag and store for two weeks.