Fleas infesting Auckland hospitals

Photo / Herald on Sunday.

Nurses have resorted to human flea collars to protect against an infestation of the biting insects at Auckland hospitals.

Michael Quensell, of pest eradication company Ecolab, said some staff were choosing to wear flea collars on their ankles after being bitten.

Ecolab handles pest control at most Auckland hospitals.

Quensell said fleas could easily be brought into the hospital by patients who own pets, but said the marks on the skin could also sometimes be caused by static electricity, exacerbating fears of an infestation.

Health board management provided staff with information about the "electronic fleas" but some still choose to wear flea collars to fight off the real thing.

"This is a personal choice," he said.

Staff reported any pest sightings and the area was immediately inspected and pest control carried out.

Middlemore Hospital has previously issued staff in its maternity suite with human flea collars, which contain natural oils to deter the pests.

Counties-Manukau District Health Board chief operating officer Ron Dunham said Middlemore Hospital had a problem with fleas.

Staff had notified the management about fleas being brought in by patients and visitors at the hospital.

"This time of year is particularly bad," he said. "Ecolab usually come in once a week to spray areas where fleas have been reported."

The whole hospital was sprayed for pests once a year, he said. He was not aware of staff wearing flea collars on their ankles. "I wouldn't recommend that because of some of the chemicals in them. People who put them on dogs and cats need to wash their hands carefully afterwards," he said.

Auckland Veterinary Centre vet Ailsa Carter said she too would not recommend flea collars to humans.

"Most would be relatively safe but they haven't been trialled and tested on humans," she said.

Waitemata District Health Board spokesman Paul Patton said fleas had been found at North Shore Hospital when some patients brought in their own blankets and rugs. But the hospital did not have an infestation problem and staff were not wearing flea collars.