[Mr. Jeeves]

I'm thinking "louse" is a misprint, since fleas are far more likely to be transmitters of disease.

[Unassuaged]

I have read a few accounts of the battle of Stalingrad in WWII, one of the things that left an impression was the description of the Russian method of delousing. First you dig a hole in the ground and bury your clothing item withe a little piece sticking out, the lice will all move there, they can then be scooped off and disposed of. There were similar issues with fleas.