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Typhus Cases Up
A magnified left lateral view of a male Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, a species known to spread typhus.
(
James Gathany
/
Courtesy of CDC via Unsplash
)
Topline:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put Los Angeles doctors on alert, as typhus, a bacterial infection spread by fleas, makes a comeback in L.A. County.
By the numbers: In 2010, there were 31 cases of flea-borne typhus. Last year, it jumped to 171 cases, killing three people with underlying health conditions.
How it spreads: Infected fleas are carried by rats and animals that many people don’t view as disease carriers, such as feral cats and opossums. When an infected flea bites a person or animal, the bite breaks the skin, causing a wound. Fleas poop when they feed. This poop (also called flea dirt) contains bacteria, which can be rubbed into the bite wound or other wounds and cause an infection. People can also breathe in infected flea dirt or rub it into their eyes, but the bacteria do not spread from person to person.
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It’s treatable: Antibiotics given quickly can clear up the infection in people of all ages, but the problem with typhus is that it can be mistaken for the flu. The CDC is telling doctors to consider typhus when ordering lab tests and ask if a patient has been exposed to fleas. Pet owners should put flea control products on their fluffy friends, including dogs and both indoor and outdoor cats.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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