Lice have been detected in the hair and on the scalps of more than 30 students and medical authorities are concerned it may be a new resistant strain.

Nineteen children were brought to the Government clinic to be checked for head lice on Friday and ten were brought in yesterday as the incidence of the parasite is on the increase locally. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brenda Davidson said the outbreak is confined primarily to Saltus Grammar School and the Bermuda High School.

"It is usually localised to a few schools,'' she said, "and unfortunately the same people seem to get it.'' She said lice really like clean blonde hair that has been treated with light oil or hair lotion.

"We have treated a number of children but the frequency of the outbreak is causing us to wonder if this is a resistant strain.'' Principals said the problem was under control.

"I don't think a week passes without the discovery that at least one child has lice,'' said BHS principal Eleanor Kingsbury. "Four students are out with lice at the moment but I would not call that an outbreak.'' Concern over outbreak of lice at BHS, Saltus Saltus principal Nigel Kermode said head lice had hit Saltus preparatory and junior schools.

While he did not know exact numbers, he said that seven students from the junior section were sent home last week with the complaint.

Students who are found to have lice or the eggs of lice, nits, in their hair and scalp are sent home and not allowed back to the school until the local Health Department clears them to return.

"We have been enormously helped by the school nurses especially nurse Telford who despite a huge workload will even make unscheduled visits,'' he said.

"Our maintenance teams do everything, even fog rooms to ensure lice are not there.

"Many parents get distressed over the problem and some are upset that we won't let their children come to school, but we have to look at the greater good of the greater number.'' The two principals believe that this latest outbreak was spread at a sleepover party.

Dr. Davidson agreed that sleepover parties, car pooling and other social habits which bring children in close head-to-head contact is how lice are able to spread.

"It is the social habits of the parents that seems to foster the spreading of lice,'' Dr. Davidson said.

"And in some instances we have found lice in the parents.'' Dr. Davidson said good hygiene needed to be stressed to stem the outbreak and noted the importance of carrying these practices through in the home between siblings.

And she said the timing of the outbreaks focussed on the beginning of school terms.

"Whether children are simply walking around with the eggs during their holidays and do not get detected until they return to school and start scratching their heads, or whether they do something new like wear an old stored hat, we do not know,'' Dr. Davidson added.

Facts on Lice Spread by direct contact with infestation, ie: Touching head Touching body hair And from shared combs, brushes, helmets, towels, coats and bedding Signs & symptoms: Itching Yellow or grayish white tear drop shaped eggs -- nits about 0.8 millimetres long on hair strands and scalp.