Fleas live in carpets. I know from experience. And they don't live on plain wood floors.
They live in rushes ( which is what herb and grasses strew floors are ), as do other bugs. And you obviously didn't read the article...THE FLOORS WERE NOT BARE, THEY WERE RUSH COVERED.
I respectfully disagree. Fleas can live in the cracks in hardwood floors. I don't have carpet in my house and if we don't keep our dogs on Advantage we will have flea problems. I have been bitten when the dogs are not in the same room I am in, but then I'm so sweet that fleas particularly like me. :)
That aside, my original point was that the plague was spread by fleas that Ms. Goodman's natural insect repellant didn't kill or repel.
You know from experience that fleas live in carpets.
And I know from experience that fleas can do quite well living in the cracks between 12x12 vinyl tiles.
What makes you so sure they can't live on plain wood floors?
I'll bet they could run a family out of the place.
Oh yes fleas can live on bare wood floors. Thanks to Advantage and Frontline fleas are not a problem anymore.