Into the seams of University of Maryland’s lice infestation

A lice infestation in McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland caused panic across the campus community this week. 

Timeline

Initial reports came from social media sites such as YikYak and Reddit on Wednesday night, attached with images of body lice on furniture on the fourth floor of McKeldin Library. 

By Thursday afternoon, the Diamondback reported that the university’s pest control unit had treated the floor and would continue to investigate other areas of campus. 

The first communication about the lice directly from the university came Friday morning in a notice from the University Health Center. According to the message, the university’s pest control units have found evidence of and treated lice on the fourth floor of McKeldin Library and a restroom in Kirwan Hall.

Body Lice

Louse, singular for lice, is a type of wingless parasitic insect that feeds on humans. According to Michael Raupp, a professor emeritus in the department of entomology with research in pest management, the most common type is head lice found in hair, followed by pubic lice (also known as crabs) found in the pubic region and finally, body lice found on fabrics.

“The thing with body lice is that they basically spend most of their time on clothing,” Raupp said in an interview Friday.

Raupp described louse as being around the size of a sesame seed. Nits, or the eggs laid by head lice, are a similar size and color as a grain of rice. Body lice usually lay eggs in the seams of fabrics like clothes, towels, bags or furniture.

“These insects can be seen with the human eye,” Raupp said. “You can feel lice when they’re walking on you. There might be a little tickling sensation.”

According to Raupp, body lice evolved from hair lice when humans first started wearing clothing like woven products and animal skin. Today they’re commonly associated with high-density living conditions with hygiene limitations, such as war environments or homeless encampments.

Regardless, Raupp emphasized that lice don’t discriminate once they’re in contact with a human body. 

“Virtually anyone can be infested with lice,” he said. “There should be no misconception that all races, all ages, all kinds of people can be infested with lice.” 

Symptoms and disease

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common symptoms of a lice infestation are irritated skin and groups of small, discolored spots. More severe cases can present as sores and bacterial infections like typhus, trench fever and louse-borne relapsing fever.

Raupp believes that it’s unlikely that the lice on campus are carrying bacteria that will cause the spread of disease.

“In these situations, I think the probability is very, very low that these particular lice are carrying these bacteria that could cause this,” he said. “Again, we’re not in a war situation or a situation where people can’t bathe and are wearing the same clothes all the time.”

If you are infected, Raupp and the university recommend visiting the health center and washing fabrics with high heat. 

“The good thing is that they’re easy to get rid of once you have them,” Raupp said.

Further spread

Raupp doesn’t see the situation escalating past the few isolated and treated incidents.

“This [louse] is not something that’s going to come off that couch, go across the linoleum floor or a hardwood floor and climb up on the next couch. The probability of that is, I think, rather low,” he said.

McKeldin and Kirwan were the only locations confirmed by the university, but a facilities management representative said they received several reports from Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center, including room 1215, and some from Glenn L. Martin Hall by phone call on Thursday evening. These reports have not been confirmed.

“The next piece of this puzzle, I believe, is to get the information out as quickly and widely as possible to people that might’ve been exposed,” Raupp said.

In Friday’s message, the university asked for any insect sightings to be reported to facilities through the service request portal.

Mara K. Bell contributed to this report.