In a message dated Wed, 26 Apr 2000 10:52:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Paul Orselli <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> On Tue, 25 Apr 2000 11:07:04 -0400, Matthew White <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >Well, I have just searched all the lice web pages and they all say you CAN
> >catch lice via shared hats and clothes although one site does draw a
> >distinction between head lice & body lice.  So, until I find the other
> >citation that claims this may be a myth, I retract my earlier statement.
>
>
> Regarding head lice:
>
> The two links below connect to two of the world's foremost
> experts on the head lice/public health issue.
>
> http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

> A colleague and I have both had personal conversations with
> the primary researchers at both Harvard and The University of British
> Columbia, and they BOTH stated that their is NO PROBLEM with head lice and
> hats in a museum setting. There is not one bit of scientific evidence or
> research to show otherwise.
>
> The problem lies with misinformation and the public's continuing
> impression that hats spread lice.

Um, not to be contractory, but on the site above it states:

Head lice are mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person's hair, but some may be transferred with shared combs, hats and other hair accessories.

Now there may be a minimum amount of time needed to transfer lice like 10 minutes so that hats that are simply tried on won't be affected. But the site doesn't state that.

In theater, we either use things like "Fresh Again" or vodka and water to spritz on clothes to disinfect them. Lysol works great too and is cheap.

Deb

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