Do Fly’s Carry Lice?
WouterDo flies carry lice? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Although head lice are not disease-carrying, several infectious diseases are associated with these insects. Among the most serious are relapsing fever, epidemic typhus, and Bartonella quintana. And while head lice are not pathogen carriers, they are involved in the mechanical transmission of bacteria.
Lice are insects that live on the head of humans and animals. The adult stage lasts for about 30 days before dying. During that time, the lice lay eggs, known as nits, on hair or feathers. The eggs are glued to the hair shafts. Lice eggs hatch after about a week, and the first stage of nits emerges after about 4-15 days. They develop through three different stages, each with similar feeding and moulting behavior.
The disease is transmitted from one person to another through body-to-body contact, as well as head-to-head contact. It is also transmitted from animal to human through blood transfusion. In some cases, it can also be transmitted via infested clothing or bed linen. Head lice are estimated to affect up to 100 million people worldwide.
Adult lice are white or gray in color, about the size of a sesame seed. Their eggs are so small that they can be mistaken for dandruff. Lice eggs cannot be easily removed from hair and they often cause small red bumps. They can cause bacterial infection if left untreated.
