Sleeping with Fleas?

Sharing abed with your dog might seem harmless, but it can promote the transmission of zoonotic diseases

Bed bug outbreaks may have worried people from coast to coast this summer, but a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites fleas as a greater concern in terms of transmitting diseases to pets and humans. While bed bugs can bite and leave sores on humans. they pose no serious health risk to those who are bitten. Fleas. on the other hand, can transmit cat scratch fever, tapeworm and other serious diseases. Still, only 11 percent of pet owners in a national survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital (Portland, Ore.) believe fleas are worse than bed bugs. Now the hospital chain is trying to warn people about the health risks associated with sharing their beds. "While Banfield Pet Hospital is certainly not discounting the issue of bed bugs, the survey brought to light the need to educate pet owners about the dangers of fleas and proper year-round flea prevention; said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner. Banfield's senior vice president and chief medical  officer. "With nearly seven out of 10 pet owners sharing the bed with their pets, it is important that both the public and pet owners understand fleas not only bite, but also spread disease to both humans and pets. "According to the survey, 67 percent of pet owners allow pets to sleep in their beds. Only 16 percent are more worried about fleas than bed bugs. About 55 percent are unconcerned about either pest. Fleas are more common in the Southeast and the West. In 2010, South Carolina, Oklahoma. Arkansas. Florida and Alabama had the greatest prevalence of fleas in  dogs. Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas had the greatest prevalence of fleas in cats.