Michaela Strachan on Gateway 97.8

The largest ever study of vet practices in the UK has found that 1 in 4 cats and 1 in 7 dogs are carrying fleas…..The Big Flea Project, has been carried out by MSD Animal Health in partnership with the University of Bristol; it concluded that 11% of the flea samples carried Bartonella, an infectious bacterium that can cause disease in people.

Bartonella can cause cat scratch disease – a condition that causes headaches, fatigue and fever. In severe cases antibiotic treatment is required and children may be more at risk than adults.

It is however a health hazard most of us are ignorant about. In a related study, 4 out of 5 Brits admitted they didn’t know fleas carried bacteria and other infectious pathogens.

Aston spoke to BAFTA Award winning TV presenter Michaela Strachan and clinical director and vet Dr David Tweedle about “The Big Flea Project” and also about the research.