This ability may give the false impression that fleas can fly. They are wingless. The adult flea recognizes the presence of a potential host by the host's body heat and odor and by vibrations. This is one reason fleas often attack people returning home after vacation or when new occupants move into quarters formerly occupied by people with pets. The feeding habit and occasional lack of host specificity of fleas increase the potential for transmitting disease-causing organisms to humans and domestic animals.
Fleas transmit diseases such as plague, typhus and tularemia to humans.
Cat and dog fleas can serve as intermediate hosts for dog, cat and rodent tapeworms, which may infest humans, particularly young children. Control To successfully control fleas, treat the inside of the home, the outside of the home accessible to the pet, and the pet itself. Treating only one or two of the three almost always leads to a reinfestation because fleas that remain will find the animal and then are further distributed to other areas. Before you apply any insecticide for flea control, vacuum the premises thoroughly, especially pet resting areas, to remove as many developing fleas as possible. Vacuum carpets, particularly around legs of furniture that pets rub against.