"Summer heat, check. Mosquitoes, check. Labor Day traffic, check. Now add fleas carrying typhus fever to things Southern Californians have to worry about. A report from the Los Angeles County Health Department released Thursday warns everyone especially pet owners to make sure they are keeping fleas at a distance, because they've found an increase in people getting sick this year when infected by the tiny pests carrying the flea-borne disease typhus, also known as typhus fever."
"Cases of typhus have been on the rise in L.A. County since 2010, with 2024 experiencing a record-high number of cases numbering 187. This year, there have been 106 cases reported, a rate that is higher than last year at this same time, the health department reported. And since the typhus season peaks now, in late summer and fall, health officials predict the number of cases and clusters of cases will rise in the next several weeks."
Los Angeles County has experienced a steady increase in flea-borne typhus cases since 2010, with 2024 recording a record-high 187 cases. One hundred six cases have been recorded so far this year, a higher rate than the same time last year. Typhus season peaks in late summer and fall, and more cases and localized clusters are expected in coming weeks. Outbreaks have occurred across multiple neighborhoods. Transmission occurs only via infected fleas found on rats, feral cats, and opossums; a single opossum can carry hundreds of fleas. Pets can bring fleas into homes, so flea prevention for animals and limiting contact with feral wildlife are important.
Read at www.dailynews.com
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