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Flea-Borne Typhus Surges in LA: Warning Issued
30 Jul
Summary
- LA County officials warn of flea-borne typhus outbreak in Pico-Union.
- Five recovered patients hospitalized due to bacterial infection.
- Infected fleas on pets and wildlife, like rats and opossums, pose risk.
Los Angeles County public health officials have issued a warning concerning a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Pico-Union area. This announcement follows five hospitalizations due to the bacterial infection; all patients have since recovered. Public health officials highlighted an increase in cases across the county.
Flea-borne typhus is often contracted in or around homes when infected fleas, commonly found on rats, free-roaming cats, and opossums in Los Angeles County, are brought indoors via pets or other animals. Symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, chills, rash, nausea, and vomiting, appear one to two weeks after infection. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are crucial.
LA County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis urged community members to take preventative measures. These include keeping pets on year-round flea control, avoiding stray animals, and ensuring wildlife cannot access homes. Flea-borne typhus cases have been on the rise since 2010, with a record 220 cases identified in 2025 across all age groups.
