The weather is finally warming up, but the long winter has helped spread bugs, specifically lice and the norovirus, that are making a lot of people sick.
Schools are getting hit hard by both of these pests; some have even sent letters to parents asking them to debug their kids over spring break.
"I've really been checking a lot to make sure that it's not coming into our house," said Forest Hills School District mom Luann Mackraz. Mackraz is a mom of four and this year, she's received four letters from school about lice.
The problem isn't just in the Forest Hills District. Experts at Remedy Boutique, a place in Grand Rapids that specializes in lice, have been busy with calls from all over.
They said at least five different districts are dealing with lice right now along with a couple private schools.The boutique was slammed last weekend and they expect spring break to be even busier.
The biggest problem is that home treatments aren't' strong enough to fight the head bugs.
"It's not getting it," said lice technician Becky Curtis. "They are going back to school, they are exposing other kids and then it's just, it's just multiplying."
Most people get lice from head-to-head contact. The cold weather has been keeping people inside so there is a greater chance of spreading it.
The same is true for norovirus.
"The one thing with norovirus...the onset is really quick and people that are sick may not realize that it is norovirus, so they may still be around people that are well," said Lisa LaPlante with the Kent County Health Department.
Mothers like Mackraz are doing all they can to use this break to keep their kids free from these bugs.
Tips to avoid lice:
Schools are getting hit hard by both of these pests; some have even sent letters to parents asking them to debug their kids over spring break.
"I've really been checking a lot to make sure that it's not coming into our house," said Forest Hills School District mom Luann Mackraz. Mackraz is a mom of four and this year, she's received four letters from school about lice.
The problem isn't just in the Forest Hills District. Experts at Remedy Boutique, a place in Grand Rapids that specializes in lice, have been busy with calls from all over.
They said at least five different districts are dealing with lice right now along with a couple private schools.The boutique was slammed last weekend and they expect spring break to be even busier.
The biggest problem is that home treatments aren't' strong enough to fight the head bugs.
"It's not getting it," said lice technician Becky Curtis. "They are going back to school, they are exposing other kids and then it's just, it's just multiplying."
Most people get lice from head-to-head contact. The cold weather has been keeping people inside so there is a greater chance of spreading it.
The same is true for norovirus.
"The one thing with norovirus...the onset is really quick and people that are sick may not realize that it is norovirus, so they may still be around people that are well," said Lisa LaPlante with the Kent County Health Department.
Mothers like Mackraz are doing all they can to use this break to keep their kids free from these bugs.
Tips to avoid lice:
* Don't go to bed with wet hair
* Don't share hair brushes or anything that goes on your head, even with family.
* Preventative shampoos
Tips to treat lice:
Tips to treat lice:
* Remedy Boutique has a heat treatment to kill them
* Use your freezer or dryer to kill them on your belongings
Tips to avoid norovirus:
Tips to avoid norovirus:
* Wash hands (hand sanitizers are ineffective)
* Stay away from anyone who has the virus
Tips to treat norovirus:
Tips to treat norovirus:
* Time (there is no treatment)
* Clean everything with bleach to avoid spreading it
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