Rabies and Fleas

Rabies is a potentially fatal disease that affects animals. Most animals will display some signs of the disease, but some may not. It is important to prevent contact with animals that may be infected, especially wild animals, dogs, and other biting mammals. Animal control officers can help you determine whether a particular animal has rabies. You should also teach your children not to pet or handle wild animals and report any animal encounters to your local animal control office.

Symptoms of flea infection in humans include fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Treatment will typically involve antibiotics. The infection can be transmitted to humans by fleas carrying the Rickettsia typhi bacteria. This disease is spread by fleas living in tropical climates. If you have symptoms of an infected animal, do not attempt to remove the infected flea, even if your pet isn’t acting abnormally.

Rabies is also deadly to humans. It kills around 59,000 people every year, but thanks to advances in medical technology, the rate of transmission has decreased dramatically. Although the most common source of rabies is bats, dogs are still the largest source of transmission. So if you are concerned about a dog or cat bite, make sure to seek medical care immediately.

Although rare in North America, murine typhus is a very real risk for humans. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. The symptoms include a high fever, chills, and weakness. Fortunately, this disease is treatable by antibiotics.