The bite is asmall red spot with a light-colored center. Torelieve the itching, apply cooling preparationssuch as carbolated vaseline, menthol, camphor,calamine lotion or ice. See a doctor immediatelyif you have a severe allergic reaction. Spreading disease organisms to man andanimals is very possible because fleas bite manydifferent people and animals. Fleas can t ansmittwo types of bubonic plague-urban and rural.
Urban plague is spread by close contact betweenpeople and animals, especially rats or theirfleas.
Rural plague involves wild rodents andfleas, with occasional transmission to man. Rural plague is present in the western UnitedStates. Murine or endemic typhus also is transmittedfrom rats to man. This disease occurs onlyoccasionally in the western United States. If you do not treatone of the sites, it will provide a hiding place forfleas and result in a new infestation.