FLEAS- OUR FEARS AND THE FACTS

Science no matter what kind we might be referring to: medical, chemical, atomic, anthropological, geological and the many other types that also exist can generally do a very good job of explaining how and why those things that fall under their area of study serve to work, act or exist in the way they do.A scientist’s job, at any given time, might be to study, observe, measure, quantify, experiment, theorize, formulate, build, explain, manufacture; well you get the idea. But how exactly does science explain why so many of us seem to have what I can best describe as a fundamental distaste, even primal fear of insects; in this case the common flea? Now this emotional reaction I refer to as fear obviously occurs on some sort of a sliding scale, depending on the individual; for certain people it really can be almost a paralyzing sort of fear, for others just a moderate or mild distaste and for some almost no reaction at all. If the “no reaction at all” individual did not exist we would never find anyone willing to work in the pest control industry. If we accept the fact that there are “all kinds”, so to speak, when it comes to a person’s basic emotional reaction to an insect, then I also believe that this reaction must be hardwired into us, as a very definite part of our specific DNA or genetic makeup. Similar, in fashion, to why certain people can faint dead away at the sight of blood and most others are unaffected. Many of us have an instinctual fear of snakes and would avoid contact with one, even if we were told it was harmless, others will pick a snake up without any fear; again I suggest whatever our reaction is to a snake, it is very much built into our genes.*

Scientists are pretty firm in their belief that our ancestors began on earth around 6 million years ago and modern man has been in existence for about 200,000 years. I have often wondered why this fear of insects evolved inside our genetic makeup the way it has over that lengthy period. It is quite obvious that a fear of snakes, in certain instances makes a lot of sense, but with insects perhaps this fear is sometimes dismissed as mere hysteria, but I do not believe that to be true. This “fear” did not just become part of us, for no good reason; it must exist in the same common sense way the rest of our body has evolved, through those traits, functions and instincts becoming a part of us, that give us the best chance for survival, as a species*.

I can only think that our fear of insects, for some, or distaste as it might affect others, has become a fundamental part of us because the dangers associated with many of these insects are very real and exist because they are a definite part of our DNA based “survival instinct”. Antibiotics have only been in general use for about 75 years and anti-venoms around 100 years; a mere drop in the ocean compared to the actual duration of mankind’s existence. It is fair to say that if you go back in time that 75 or hundred years and imagine someone dealing with the health risks associated with an unfortunate insect encounter; the personal impact to that individual was far more potentially devastating then, than today. One can only imagine how many insect bites resulted in serious wounds or even death. How many allergic reactions, to an insect bite, had to go untreated with also potentially severe consequences*? It might also be worth noting that even in this age blessed by advanced antibiotics and medical techniques the diseases transmitted by insect bites kill more people each year than all other wild animals combined, including snakes and sharks***

This article is titled “Fleas-Our Fear And The Facts” and I believe it is fair to say that many of us do have that basic fear or distaste for this insect, probably a bit less fear for a flea than some other insects, but still a strong dislike. If you can accept my theory that this reaction is part of our very genetic framework; I suggest this is so because following are “The Facts” associated with a flea infestation and once you familiarize yourself with those facts I think you might agree that our so-called dislike for this insect evolved inside of us for a very good reason.

Following are some facts on fleas, as they have been detailed on our Dr. Greengood’s website:

Fleas may be very small insects but they can be highly dangerous to both pet and human, as they can transmit a number of diseases, some of which can be fatal. In addition to claws on its legs fleas have spine-like projections on its mouth, legs and back to prevent it from being easily removed. A bacterium (Yersina pestis) spread by fleas and also called the “black plague” or “bubonic plague”, in 14^th century Europe, killed more than 25 million people a quarter of the entire European population at the time**. Imagine every 4^th person died.

Before the discover of antibiotics, in the last century, epidemics have also occurred in Egypt, Africa, China, India and even the U.S. Plague still occurs throughout the world and is typically carried by wild rodents and transmitted to the fleas that bite them. Protecting your pet and yourself from these insects is essential as fleas can transmit the following diseases:

PLAGUE:While it is uncommon for humans to contract the plague today your pet can still become infected.A flea that has bitten an infected wild animal can easily infect a cat or dog and pass along the disease. Plague kills.

TAPEWORMS: Pets can ingest fleas carrying tapeworms and once inside your pet these tapeworms hatch and attach themselves to your pet’s intestines causing weight loss vomiting and irritation.

FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS:One bite from a flea can lead to hot spots and extreme itchiness for your pet. These hot spots are infected areas on the skin that can become a much larger wound, as your pet continues to itch and bite at it. Your dog’s tongue continues to spread the bacteria around and can inflame other areas.

CAT’S SCRATCH DISEASE (CSD): This disease does not really negatively impact your cat’s health but can have an extremely dangerous impact on the cat’s owner, or other humans that come into contact with the pet. It is believed that almost 40% of cats carry this disease at some time in their lives.Humans contract it, when infected flea feces on a cat’s claws or fur, is transmitted from pet to owner through a bite, lick or scratch. CSDcan cause fever, headaches, and fatigue in humans and can have even more serious consequences for those with a weakened immune system.

HAEMOBARTONELLOSIS: This disease affects cats and targets red blood cells. Symptoms can be mild to severe and can result in anemia causing weight loss and an accelerated heart rate. In some cases infected cats have been observed eating dirt. Without treatment cats can die from this disease.

MURINE TYPHUS: Only a few cases of this disease are reported annually and it seems to occur in rat infested areas. It leads to headaches, body aches, fever, and rashes. It does respond well to antibiotics..

It is fair to say that humans and pets affected with any of these things noted above, prior to modern medicine (even with modern medicine some people still die from some of these afflictions), could have found their very life at risk and our fears are not just some sort of hysterical reaction but a very real and important survival instinct.

Fortunately DR GREENGOODS FLEA TREATMENT SPRAY FOR PETS & PETS HABITAT is available to safely and effectively treat your pets and your pet’s habitat.It is 100% non-toxic to humans and pets (the environment too) and we are proud to say that ithas been tested by the world renown American Academy of Entomological Sciences (AAoES)****. DR GREENGOODS FLEA TREATMENT SPRAY FOR PETS & PETS HABITAT has been found to be composed only of elements termed GRAS, Generally Regarded As Safe and at the same time effective in killing and controlling fleas, exactly as we claim.

*Cockroaches-Our Fears And The Facts, Dr. Greengood’s Website Blog, 12/21/15

**Illinois Department of Public Health, Flea Prevention & Control

*** Time Magazine, July 2015, pgs. 92,93, “What’s the world’s deadliest creature?”

****Testing Certification, Dr. Jeffrey Brown, American Academy of Entomological Sciences