Flea-Borne (Endemic) Typhus
Typhus refers to a group of infectious diseases that are
caused by rickettsial organisms and result in an acute
febrile illness. The principle diseases of
this group are epidemic (or louse-borne) typhus,
flea-borne
(or endemic) typhus, and scrub typhus.
Flea-borne typhus (sometimes called murine typhus) is
the only one of these diseases naturally occurring in LA
County and is caused by Rickettsia typhi bacteria. Flea-borne typhus can spread to humans
from bacteria found in infected fleas. Infection happens when the feces
from infected fleas are rubbed into cuts or scrapes in
the skin or rubbed into the eyes.
Symptoms can start within two weeks after contact with the infected flea
and include high fever, headache, chills, and body
aches. A rash can appear on the chest, back, arms, or legs.
In rare cases, there may be swelling at the lining of the brain (meningitis) and heart valves (endocarditis). Fatalities are uncommon, occurring in less than 1% of
cases. The disease is typically mild in young children.
Typhus infection is not vaccine preventable, but can be
treated with antibiotics.
News and Updates:
-
Letter to Physicians:
Vector-borne Disease Risk for Los Angeles County Residents,
August
2023
-
Report: Fleaborne Typhus–Associated Deaths — Los Angeles County, California, 2022
-
LAC DPH Health Advisory:
Increases of Flea-Borne Typhus (11-16-22)
-
LAC DPH
Health
Alert:
Outbreaks of Flea-Borne Typhus
(12-2-21)
-
Letter:
Letter to Mayors and City
Managers--Guidance on actions for cities
to help prevent endemic flea-borne
typhus infections (3-22-19)
-
Press
Release:
Update on Flea-Borne Typhus in Los Angeles County
(2-7-19)
-
LAC DPH
Health
Alert
Update: Outbreaks
of Flea-Borne Typhus Los Angeles
County (10-12-18)
-
LAC DPH
Health
Alert:
Outbreak of Flea-Borne Typhus in Downtown Los Angeles
(10-4-18)
-
Press
Release: Public Health Reports Several Cases of Flea-Borne Typhus
(10-4-18)
|
Typhus Data:
Resources:
Reporting
Flea-borne typhus and other rickettsial
infections are reportable in California. Reporting of
cases guides the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Health to target surveillance activities and health
education. A Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) can be used to file a report.
The report is available as an
online fillable PDF. The CMR may be faxed to the DPH Morbidity Unit at (888) 397-3778 or (213) 482-5508. You may also report cases by telephone during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to (888) 397-3993. For cases among residents of the cities of
Long Beach or
Pasadena, please contact their local health departments.
Testing:
Typhus Testing Information for Health Professionals at
the LAC DPH Laboratory
Special Studies Report (2015):
Multi-Agency Response to a Flea-Borne Typhus Outbreak Associated with a Mobile Home Community
Additional Resources
- Flea-borne Typhus Frequently Asked Questions
English
Spanish
- Flea-borne Typhus: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Neighbors
English
Spanish
- CDC Fact Sheet - Flea-borne Typhus: What you need to know
English
Spanish
Korean
Japanese
Tagalog
Chinese
- Typhus Tri-fold
Informational Brochure
- Typhus Cases
by Year, Los Angeles County 2001-2014
- Los
Angeles County: Annual Morbidity Reports (2001-2016)
LAC: Reported Cases of Selected
Diseases (2011-2016)
- LAC: Reported
Cases of Selected Diseases (2005-2010)
- LAC: Reported Cases of
Selected Diseases (1999-2004)
-
ACDC: A Manual of Department Rules, Regulations and Control
Procedures (B73)
- Typhus Cases, LAC Map: 2014
-
Typhus Cases, LAC Map: 2000-11
- Murine
Typhus: An Unrecognized Suburban Vectorborne Disease, Civen, Rachel,
and Ngo, Van; Clinical Infections Diseases 2008;46:913-8
-
A Suburban
Neighborhood Outbreak of Murine Typhus - South Pasadena, May 2005
(2005 Special Study)
-
CDPH: Flea-borne Typhus
