Are Fleas Bad This Summer?
WouterFleas are not just a nuisance in the summer; they can also carry diseases that humans and pets can contract. For example, murine typhus is a disease caused by fleas that causes flu-like symptoms. Scientists are finding that the frequency of insect-borne diseases is increasing due to climate change. The climate has become warmer, which provides a perfect environment for fleas to thrive. Also, the climate has caused animals that normally host fleas to move.
Fleas are small, flightless insects that live as external parasites on mammals. The female flea can eat 15 times its own weight in blood each day. They also excrete blood, which dries into flea dirt. This dirt is then used to feed their larvae. However, the best way to combat these pests is to use an effective flea treatment.
Fleas are not just harmful to your pets, but they can also harm you if you’re allergic to them. Some types of fleas are even capable of transmitting deadly diseases. Some fleas are known to transmit murine typhus, a disease that causes flu-like symptoms in humans. Although this disease is rare in Los Angeles County, it is still a potential concern and must be avoided.
The best way to eliminate fleas is to monitor your pet more closely during the day and treat your pets more frequently than usual. The reason for this is that fleas need quiet intervals in order to lay eggs and start their life cycle. Vacuuming your pet’s bed regularly will help to kill both eggs and young fleas.
