Can fleas carry bubonic plague?

Fleas can indeed carry bubonic plague, which is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. These fleas primarily inhabit rodents, which are natural reservoirs of the disease. When the infected fleas bite a host, they can transmit the bacteria, potentially leading to an outbreak of bubonic plague in that host. This is historically significant as the plague resulted in pandemics, notably the Black Death in the 14th century, highlighting the role fleas play as vectors in the transmission of this serious infectious disease. Understanding this relationship helps in comprehending the dynamics of disease spread in both wildlife and human populations.

The other options present scenarios that do not accurately represent the connection between fleas and bubonic plague, such as suggesting it can only happen in certain regions, which implies limited transmission scenarios or simply stating that fleas cannot carry the disease, which contradicts scientific understanding of their role as vectors.