Fleas commonly feed on our dogs or cats, giving them easy access to ourselves and our homes. They are well known for the nuisance and health problems they cause to our pets. The greatest risk to humans exists at urban/rural interfaces, parks and recreation areas.  Their chief fame in history rests in their ability to transmit disease to humans. One of the important diseases carried by fleas is Murine Typhus (Rickettsia), which causes headaches, chills and skin rashes, with the involvement of the kidneys and central nervous system.  Murine Typhus occurs prominently along the southeastern, southwestern and gulf coasts. Fleas from cats have also been implicated in the transmission of Bartonella, causing cat scratch disease in humans. People infected with Bartonella have painful enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and even life threatening complications.