U.S. Head Lice Reports by State: Real Time Commmunity Data
LiceAlert is the nation's largest community-driven head lice reporting network. Since February 6, 2026, over 300,000 parents and community members across the United States have received lice notifications through text alerts, and Facebook posts, helping families stay informed and act fast to prevent contracting lice.
The interactive map below shows the number of lice reports by state. Reports are anonymously submitted by parents and community members. Reports come primarily from elementary schools, but also include middle schools and high schools across the country.
📍 Found head lice? Submit a report here to send an alert to other parents in your area.
About This Lice Report Data
This map is an aggregate of real lice reports submitted by a parent, teacher, school nurse, and other community members who encountered head lice at a school or in their community. LiceAlert does not rely on government data or school district reports. This is crowdsourced, real-time intelligence from the people most affected.
Reports span elementary, middle, and high schools across all 50 states
Data collection began February 6, 2026
Reports are submitted voluntarily by parents and citizens who want to alert their communities about lice
Sign up for free text alerts to be notified when lice are reported near you
Head Lice in the United States: Key Facts
According to the CDC, an estimated 6 to 12 million lice infestations occur each year in the United States among children ages 3 to 11. Head lice are most common among preschool and elementary school-age children, making schools the primary hotspot for outbreaks.
Lice spread primarily through direct head-to-head contact
They do not transmit disease and are not considered a public health hazard by government agencies
Lice cannot hop or fly and only crawl
An adult louse can live on a person's head for about 30 days
Female lice lay up to 6 eggs (nits) per day
The Rise of Super Lice: What Parents Need to Know
One of the most alarming trends in lice management today is the emergence of "super lice", which are strains of head lice that have developed resistance to common over-the-counter treatments like permethrin and pyrethrin (found in products like RID and NIX).
According to Syracuse.com, since 2015, an estimated 82% of head lice are now treatment-resistant super lice. A 2016 study found resistant strains in at least 25 states, and more recent research has found the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation in lice populations across more than 48 states.
What makes super lice different?
They look identical to regular lice
They carry a genetic mutation (kdr) that makes them resistant to pyrethroid-based treatments
Standard OTC shampoos and treatments may fail entirely
Prescription treatments (spinosad, ivermectin, malathion) are often required
According to WebMD, when OTC treatments were first released, they were effective in 88 to 99% of cases. That effectiveness has dropped significantly as lice have adapted.
In 2026, reports from Georgia schools showed lice-related referrals to school health offices went up 20 to 25% compared to prior years. Super lice was a primary driver.
Stay Informed. Tell Others.
LiceAlert exists because parents protecting parents is the most powerful early warning system there is when lice is found. Join the thousands of families already using LiceAlert to stay ahead of outbreaks.
LiceAlert is a community-driven initiative with the purpose of notifying families about lice in schools and other facilities in their community.
Recent policy changes at schools across the nation have contributed to an increase in lice contraction. We hope that, through LiceAlert, communities can reduce the spread.
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