BUSTING MYTHS ABOUT HEADLICE
‘Lice can jump’: No. Lice can’t fly or jump. They move by crawling. That’s why direct head-to-head contact, such as kids putting their heads together while playing, is the most common way for head lice to spread.
‘You’re more likely to get head lice if your levels of personal hygiene are poor’: Getting head lice has nothing to do with personal hygiene or the cleanliness of a home. Washing your hair won’t get rid of lice, which cling to hair.
‘Head lice prefer long hair’: Lice don’t care whether hair is short, long, clean or dirty. Lice thrive on the blood they suck through the host’s scalp.
‘You can get head lice from pets’: Lice cannot be transmitted from pets, and pets cannot get them from contact with people.