Fleas

Please click the frequently asked questions below for further information and IPC precautions required:

• What are Fleas?

  Fleas are small insects that survive by feeding on animal or human blood. Their bites can cause discomfort, itchiness, and irritation. Sometimes, fleas can infect people or pets with the germs that cause flea-borne typhus, plague, or cat scratch disease.

  

• How does it spread?

  How fleas find their hosts

  Fleas prefer animal hosts but will resort to biting people when animals are unavailable. Adult fleas find hosts by detecting body heat, movement, the vibrations caused by movement, and breathing.

   

  How fleas spread disease

  Fleas transmit germs that cause disease primarily through the processes of feeding on hosts or through faecal contamination, when infected flea feaces are scratched into an open wound.

• What are the symptoms?

  Flea bites are small, discolored bumps on your skin that come from fleas feeding on your blood. Fleas are small insects known as vectors (living things that carry diseases between animals and humans). Vectors often carry infections through blood.

• Why is this important?

  If NIAS staff are aware that the patient has a suspected or confirmed case this should be communicated to the Control Room (Emergency or Non-emergency as appropriate) and the staff in the receiving unit when transferring the patient to ensure effective patient care and management.

• IPC Precautions
  • Standard Precautions should be used.
  • Hand Hygiene should be completed as per the 5 moments in line with usual practice.
  • Eye protection should be risk assessed for any concern regarding a splash risk.
  • Gloves and Aprons should be risk assessed and worn if contact with the patient’s blood or bodily fluids.
  • Laundry should be treated as per usual local policy.
• What cleaning is required?

  All equipment and the ambulance should have an in-between patient clean, paying particular attention to touch points.

• Do staff need prophylaxis or follow up?

  No staff follow up required.