Rumor control: Hurricane Alley denies outbreak of head lice originated at waterpark
Hurricane Alley is speaking out after a local business owner claimed more than 50 of her clients got lice after visiting the downtown waterpark.
In a now deleted post, Miranda Davis, owner of The Lice Angels, said Tuesday on the clinic's Facebook and Instagram pages that "over 50 kids" who recently visited her clinic got lice at Hurricane Alley.
In another deleted post, The Lice Angels said lice can live in pools and hold their breath up to six hours.
Hurricane Alley made a Facebook post, not naming Davis, to "address the recent concerns regarding the potential spread of lice at its pools."
The post said head lice firmly attach themselves to humans' hair and do not possess the ability to swim. But it noted that sharing personal items associated with swimming — including towels used to dry hair, hats and other items that touch the head — can potentially spread lice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We understand the importance of maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for everyone, and we are committed to providing accurate information to put any worries to rest," the post said.
"You can enjoy our pools with peace of mind, knowing that lice transmission through water is simply not possible."
In comments on the deleted posts from Davis and her business, users informed her of how the CDC characterizes head lice and swimming pools.
The CDC website says data shows head lice can survive underwater for several hours, but are unlikely to be spread by the water in a swimming pool. Head lice hold tightly to human hair and do not let go when submerged under water.
In a deleted post, and a phone interview, Davis said "the CDC isn't always right." She said she deleted the post because of the negativity it was garnering.
"I've been a business here for seven years and I've never received one bad review," Davis said. "I just made a post and stated that lice can swim in pools and lice can be transmitted through pools. Then people started saying they went to the CDC website, but they're not always right. I've treated thousands of children."
Though Davis initially wrote that she'd treated more than 50 kids who got lice at Hurricane Alley, The Lice Angels later referred to them, in a Facebook comment, as a group of 15 kids who had a birthday party at the waterpark.
"They were swimming in the pool there," Davis said. "It could've been from the pool or them sharing towels with each other, even hugging each other. All I know is what the parents told me."
Davis said her initial post was not to "start drama" but to educate the community on lice. She said she spoke with the marketing director of Hurricane Alley Tuesday and deleted the post, but feels upset because the waterpark hasn't deleted its response.
"They went and posted something making me look like I'm a liar," Davis said. "They didn't say my name, but it's obvious who it's geared toward.
"There's nothing I could have gained from that post. I was just trying to educate. I'm not making money by spreading a post."
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Hurricane Alley speaks out after 'misconceptions' of head lice
