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| Jellyfish larvae aka "sea lice" |
The phrase “sea lice” is a misnomer — the pests are really tiny larvae of jellyfish or sea anemones. Other names for the rashes they cause can include “seabather’s eruption.”
This isn’t the first outbreak this year on the East Coast. In June, life guards in Florida warned swimmers to look out for sea lice. News reports have also documented sea lice in Carolina and Alabama beaches.
And last year, sea lice sent salmon prices soaring as they nibbled at much of the world’s farmed salmon supply — and cost the industry billions.
What are sea lice? The pests that are pestering Ocean City aren't like the lice you find on your head
Health officials advise any person afflicted to wash skin with fresh water and not wear contaminated swimsuits again until they’ve been washed with soap. Antihistamines and topical creams can help control itching.
According to the Baltimore city health department, other symptoms of exposure to sea lice sometimes occur with a rash, including fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, pinkeye and urethritis
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