Have you ever stepped into a flea infested home?
How do you recognize a flea infested home?
Learn more about the consequences of living in a flea infested home.
If you have experienced flea bites, you’ll know that every bite becomes itchy and terribly uncomfortable and, unfortunately, there usually isn’t just one; they bite multiple times at any given attempt! You may have seen a dog or cat that gets fleas during warmer weather. You treat the animal, spray and disinfect your home and the fleas are gone! If you’re not sure how to disinfect your home effectively, sites like https://tonewjersey.com/how-to-disinfect-your-home are there to help. Now imagine living in a home that is flea infested with no way of treating the problem! You would be bitten constantly. Some people believe that flea bites aren’t harmful, but the reality is that there are diseases associated with them. During our research we discovered four types of diseases.
Firstly, Murine Typhus is carried by rats and when cats come in contact with the rats, they become carriers. The initial symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and body aches. A rash develops on your trunk five or six days later and then spreads to your arms and legs. The California Department of Public Health says they typically see about 50 cases per year, primarily in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Secondly, Mycoplasma Haemofelis is mainly transmitted to cats through flea bites. This infection of the red blood cells can cause fever and anemia in cats and can also infect humans, especially those with compromised immune systems.
The third is Tapeworms which make themselves at home in the intestines of dogs, cats and humans. Pets can get tapeworms by swallowing infected adult fleas! While it is extremely uncommon in adults, children can get infected by accidently swallowing an infected flea while playing outdoors!
Lastly, cat scratch fever/disease! Cats with serious symptoms have vomiting, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes and/or decreased appetite. Cat scratch fever is passed onto humans when they are bitten or scratched by an infected cat. There was a case in Ohio where a woman woke up blind in one eye after her cat had licked her eye during the night. Our research also revealed that, although rare, this disease can affect the brain, eyes, heart or internal organs particularly in children under five and in others with compromised or weakened immune systems.
Hoarded homes tend to be flea infested. Imagine a hoarder who doesn’t realize that their living conditions are unsafe. They and their pets would be being bitten day and night. Both would be infected and getting sick. Our next blog will be a full case study of a home that was flea infested. So what is hoarding and why does it attract fleas?
Hoarding is an official mental disease in the USA; 2%-5% of the population suffers from it, so don’t judge the person next door or your relative; they really need help. Some hoarders hoard magazines and bottles and their homes tend to be filled from floor to ceiling. Some love stray animals and bring them home without being able to care for them; imagine having over 100 animals in one home! Cleaning and disinfecting is non-existent. Hoarders tend to live with trash and animal feces and urine around them; the home smells terrible, but the hoarder is unable to mentally process the health hazard they are living in!
Cleaning such a home is a HUGE job. Getting out of this situation requires intervention from family members, local environmental health officials and/or neighborhood watch. The good news is we buy flea infested homes as is, no cleaning required. We come in and provide a cash buy price. Why? Because we want to help communities live in safer, healthier environments. Get the hoarder in your family or on your street the help they need; nobody deserves to live in a flea infested home. Contact us HERE
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