MORRISVILLE, North Carolina, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Chilly winter weather sends everyone looking for ways to stay warm, from bundling up in hats and scarves to cuddling up with loved ones.  Unfortunately, while you and your family are seeking warmth from the cold, head lice are also seeking warmth on your hair and scalp. 

In households that have been fortunate enough to avoid a lice outbreak so far this year, parents are breathing a sigh of relief.  Lice are only spread around summer camp and back-to-school time, right?  Unfortunately, this is a common misconception.  The truth is that children and families are just as likely to be exposed to head lice in the winter months as they are during summertime, particularly because winter is a time when kids share hats and scarves and spend more time playing indoors in close proximity to each other.  Any instance of head-to-head contact is an opportunity for lice to spread, and lice aren’t any less persistent when temperatures drop.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s estimated that as many as 12 million children get lice each year, with infestation being most common among pre-school children attending child care, elementary school children and the household members of infested children¹.  Recently, lice infestations have become more difficult to eliminate for some families due in part to the development of super lice, strains of pesticide-resistant head lice. Head lice sampled in 12 states across the U.S. identified a percentage in each state carrying a gene mutation making them resistant to traditional pesticide-based active ingredients². In some cases, the frequency of this mutation was as high as 100%. News about this resistance has left parents wondering what their options are for treatment.

“Parents should be aware of new options such as Vamousse Lice Treatment, that works to kill both lice and eggs in one treatment without the use of pesticides,” says Jason Schmidt, an entomologist and Director of Research and Development for TyraTech, a North Carolina life sciences company specializing in non-toxic insect and parasite solutions.  “Vamousse offers a full range of pesticide-free solutions for treating and defending against head lice, making it a great choice for families.”  Schmidt also recommends following these simple tips to help keep your household lice-free all winter long:

• Head checks – Conduct regular checks of your child’s hair using a fine-toothed comb. Lice live within one inch of the scalp, laying eggs that look like grains of sand adhered to the hair shaft.
• Avoid head-to-head contact during play – Hard to do, but especially important if head lice has already been detected among classmates or friends. Keeping long hair pulled back can help.
• Don’t share – Encourage children not to share hats, scarves, combs or other items that come in contact with hair. Don’t worry too much, though, as head-to-head contact is the primary mode of transmitting lice.

If your family is exposed to head lice, don’t panic.  Non-toxic, pesticide-free Vamousse Lice Treatment is available over-the-counter and is clinically proven to kill lice and their eggs in one treatment. It uses the active ingredient Natrum Muriaticum to dehydrate lice, even super lice, and nits.

Remember, if one person in your home contracts head lice, your entire family is at risk.  Defend against the growth of an infestation with a non-toxic daily lice shampoo like Vamousse Lice Defense, which is recommended for use during high-risk periods and for 10 to 14 days after potential exposure. It is pesticide-free and safe enough for use by the entire family, including children as young as two.

Vamousse Lice Treatment (MSRP $24.99) is available nationwide at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Kmart, and in some regional chains, including Harris Teeter and HEB, and online at Walmart.com, CVS.com, Walgreens.com, Amazon.com and Drugstore.com.  Vamousse Lice Defense Shampoo (MSRP $12.99) is available nationwide at Walmart and in some regional chains, including Harris Teeter, and online at Walgreens.com, Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and Walmart.com.

Additional information and resources can be found at www.vamousselice.com.   

About TyraTech

Established in 2004, TyraTech, Inc. (AIM: TYR and TYRU) is a life sciences company focusing on nature-derived insect and parasite control products that are as effective as traditional chemical options while providing a new level of safety for people, animals and the environment. TyraTech’s Nature’s Technology® leverages its patented scientific platform to provide a full range of biocides, head lice and insect repellent solutions, including Vamousse Lice Treatment and Vamousse Lice Defense.

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) Head Lice – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html

² Yoon et al. (2014) Knockdown resistance allele frequencies in North American head louse (Anoplura: Pediculidae) populations. J. Med. Entomol. 51.

Contact: Chris Shigas
(919) 308-1816