Where Do Head Lice Come From?
To prevent head lice from infesting your child, there are a few things you can do. First, you should limit direct head contact. Ensure your child wears his or her hair up or is tied back. Second, don’t let your child use other children’s hair brushes, shampoo, or personal care products.
Head lice are not a new phenomenon. There is plenty of evidence to suggest they have been around for many centuries. In fact, nits have been found on Egyptian mummies. While head lice are not airborne, they can be spread from one head to another through direct contact or inanimate objects.
In terms of distribution, head lice have three clades, each with its own distinctive geographic distribution. They are genetically distinct but all share a common ancestor. Clade B is native to North America. However, there are some other differences between these three groups. For example, the head lice found in North America are called Clade B.
Head lice are spread from head to head contact, and nearly half of the population has head lice. Lice only need a warm scalp and a hair strand to live on human scalps. This means that even people with short hair can get head lice.