Russian government blames selfies for spreading lice

It looks like snapping selfies with bears in the background are a no-go, but those are not the only kind of selfies that will be banned. A Russian government agency that hails from Kursk’s regional department of Rospotrebnadzor, has issued a warning to younger folks out there that snapping selfies could be hazardous to your health, as it might lead to the spread of head lice in particular.

A government agency in Russia is warning young people that selfies lead to just one thing: Head lice. Kursk’s regional department of Rospotrebnadzor, which is responsible for consumer rights and human well-being, says that people cramming together for a photo allows lice to jump around from head to head, and that selfies are the main reason why lice spread. This isn’t the first time the agency has given odd advice; former head Gennady Onishchenko once said crows should be killed because they are “feathered wolves which spread bird flu.” The public is paying no mind, with online commenters mocking the warning. “This is wonderful!!” one commenter said at the Lenta news site, the BBC reports. “Onishchenko’s work still flourishes — the more bonkers the reason, the better.” – – Catherine Garcia