BY MATT BLEIMAN

In print | Published February 7, 2008

Although rumors of a lice outbreak in Willets dormitory caused some concern around campus at the beginning of the spring semester, in reality there was only a pair of reported cases this year. The lice problem appears to have been small and isolated and has now been completely eliminated.

Reports of the lice may have evoked memories in some students of a lice outbreak early last year. According to an article in The Phoenix from March 8, 2007, the lice outbreak last year led to treatment of several students from Willets, Hallowell and Mary Lyon.

In that article, The Phoenix reported that Environmental Services technicians deloused public furniture with a lice treatment spray, to help mitigate the outbreak.

Despite the initial scare, the 2007 outbreak was quickly contained by Environmental Services and the Worth Health Center.

The case this year was much more mild. “There were two students on my hall who had lice, roommates,” Willets RA Katy Feniello ‘08 said. "One had it mostly dealt with by the time we got back from break, and the other was finished after only about a week — it’s over now. This is the third time I’ve seen lice on this campus, and it went away faster this time than I’ve ever heard of."

Feniello described the situation as being worrisome, but not as causing any fear.

“Some students were concerned, mostly friends of mine who live in other dorms, but the people affected by it handled it in a superlative fashion, and it did not get anyone else,” she said. The reaction was quick and procedures were followed to ensure that the problem would not proliferate.

“I sent an e-mail to the Willets list when I heard about it, to warn people generally about being aware and avoiding fabric-upholstered public furniture. But generally, it was well-handled by all, and there wasn’t really much reaction to it.”

Director of Health Services Beth Kotarski said that there is no mystery to lice.

“It happens, and it’s not dangerous,” Kotarski said. “Good lice shampoos are over the counter and we carry them also.”

“I know it’s icky, but really common among people who share bathrooms and bedrooms and very close head-to-head contact,” Kotarski said. “Diligent cleaning of all bed linens and pillows with very hot water and hot air in the dryer is enough to kill lice.”

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