HORRUBILUS| Keeping Your Home Flea Fre (NAPSA)—If you’re itching to rid your home of fleas, you may want to heed someexpert advice. The first thing you should know is that it’s important to act fast. Infestations pop up quickly and can be very difficult to control once inside the home, says the National Pest Management Association. Fleas are hungry parasites that feed on any warmblooded body, so it’s easy for pets to bring them inside and spread them throughout the house— where they can then turn you into supper. It’s not healthy to live ina house with fleas; these pests have been known to transmit fatal diseases like the bubonic plague and the bacterial disease, murine typhus. However, it is more com- mon for pets and people alike to suffer an allergic reaction to flea saliva, which can cause painful, itchy bumpsontheskin. Here are someflea-fighting tips from the National Pest Management Association: Keep your lawn groomed. Untended lawns provide hiding spots and food sources for rodents and other animals that fleas feed on. Fleas can hitch rides on rodents. If you notice a rodent problem on your property, fleas are just one more reason to call a pest professional immediately to remedy the problem. : PEAT Fleas can hitch a ride into your home on a rodent or a household pet. If you spot adult fleas, you mayalso need to treat for eggs. Keep pets leashed while outside. Bathe and groom your pets regularly and useflea treatments as recommended by your veterinarian. * Clean and vacuum your home frequently to help remove fleas. * Getting rid of adult fleas alone will not solve your problem. If you find adult fleas, then there may also be hundreds of eggs in your home. These eggs can take seven to 14 days to hatch and the infestation cycle will continue. A pest managementprofessional can rid your home of both adult fleas and larvae. For more information or to find a pest professional in your area, visit www.pestworld.org.
