LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Los Angeles County is experiencing a document quantity of flea-borne typhus cases, and almost 90% of sufferers have needed to be hospitalized.
Typhus is a bacterial illness unfold by contaminated fleas. Symptoms vary from gentle to doubtlessly lethal. Health officers say it is so widespread, you could be in danger whether or not you have got a pet or not.
“These cases have been rising year after year. They’re occurring in all areas of our county,” mentioned Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Aiman Halai with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
In 2025, 220 typhus infections had been recorded in L.A. County, which is up from 187 cases in 2024. Halai mentioned 90% of residents bitten by contaminated fleas ended up within the hospital.
“Some patients can develop severe illnesses in which multiple organ systems can be involved and really can result in death as well,” she mentioned.
Halai mentioned signs – like fever, headache, nausea, physique aches, vomiting and rash – can begin one to 2 weeks after a flea chunk.
One bit of excellent news is that typhus is not transmitted from individual to individual. Infected fleas are likely to reside on rats, free roaming cats and possums. If your canine or cat spends rather a lot of time outdoor and will get uncovered, they do not have to point out any indicators of sickness so that you can get sick.
“The fleas can be infected and can live on your pet, even though they’re well, so you can still be at risk of contracting the disease,” mentioned Halai.
To defend your self, well being officers recommend you defend your pets, use flea management 12 months spherical and steer clear of stray animals. Don’t deal with them or feed them.
“Don’t leave any pet food outside. Make sure the vegetation around our homes is trimmed, making sure there’s no bulky items where these animals can hide or crawl spaces where rodents can live,” mentioned Halai.
Also, safe your outside trash bins. Halai mentioned it is principally the extreme cases which were documented, but it surely’s probably many extra native cases have occurred however have not been counted.
Typhus transmitted by fleas usually requires immediate antibiotic therapy like doxycycline to forestall extreme issues. Last 12 months, county investigators regarded into three native outbreaks in Central L.A., Santa Monica and the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook.
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