How to protect yourself?

Lice alarm in suburban trains, train sets withdrawn

Be careful, the next set could be infested with lice!(Bild: Stefan Steinkogler)

A train driver on Vienna's rapid transit system is sounding the alarm: trains have to be withdrawn every day due to lice infestation. Where do they come from and how can you protect yourself against them? The "Krone" asked.

"In the interests of our health, I hope for your support," was the conclusion of the anonymous letter from a suspected ÖBB train driver, which the "Krone", the Minister of Health and the Vienna Labor Inspectorate are said to have received. The attached "evidence photo" would probably make many people nauseous. Which is why (and to protect the privacy of the person concerned) we have decided not to publish it.

Be careful, the next set of clothes could be infested with lice!(Bild: Stefan Steinkogler)

Homeless man covered in lice
The photo shows an apparently homeless man covered in lice from top to bottom. According to the whistleblower, he regularly sleeps in an S-Bahn train on the Meidling-Floridsdorf line. The man is also said to have been filmed performing sexual acts on himself. Another man without a shelter is said to use the S-Bahn "with open, stinking wounds".

Train sets are confiscated
"Every day, two to four trainsets are withdrawn and deloused with great effort", the letter claims. ÖBB confirmed this when asked by the "Krone". However, "high hygiene standards" are always observed and affected trains are immediately "cleared, blocked, withdrawn and cleaned". Employees are instructed to react to such situations.

The annoying crawlers can be removed with a special lice comb.(Bild: Andrey Popov/stock.adobe.com)

Staff are instructed to report the men's journey. However, many boardings remain undetected as he cannot keep track of passengers from the driver's cab on full platforms.

Bad consequences
"This is unacceptable and an imposition for staff and passengers," he complains. The lice infestation on the coaches can have bad consequences, not only in terms of smell but also health-wise.

How can public transport riders protect themselves?
Unfortunately, there is no one hundred percent protection against the transmission of head lice. Because where many people come together in a confined space, the pesky beasts feel right at home. However, the risk can be reduced with a few simple tips.

• Tie up long hair - this reduces the risk of direct hair-to-hair contact.
• Wear headgear - cap, hood, headband, hat: they all ensure that the parasites do not reach the hair and scalp in the first place.
• Check hair - A nit comb can be used to detect an infestation at an early stage and the lice have less time to multiply.

Act quickly
If you are affected by an infestation, it is important to act as quickly as possible. Get shampoo or lotion from the pharmacy and use it with the nit comb. Place combs and brushes in a 60 degree soap solution for a few minutes. Wash used clothing, bed linen and towels in the washing machine at 60 degrees. Place items that are not washable in a plastic bag and leave for three days.

You can get advice at the Hygiene Center of the City of Vienna (11th, Rappachgasse 40). Delousing is also carried out there directly.