California - 2025 - 2026 Typhus

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.foxla.com/news/flea-borne-typhus-outbreak-long-beach

Flea-borne typhus outbreak reported in Long Beach
By FOX 11 Digital Team
Published August 5, 2025 7:12am PDT


Long Beach has seen a higher-than-usual number of flea-borne typhus cases this year, with 20 cases reported so far.
The bacterial disease is spread to humans by fleas carried by wild animals and is not transmitted from person to person.
City officials are urging residents to take preventative measures, like controlling fleas on pets, avoiding wild animals, and securing outdoor food sources.

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The City of Long Beach is experiencing an unusually high number of flea-borne typhus cases this year, prompting the health department to issue a warning and urge residents to take preventative action.

By the numbers:

As of July 31, 20 cases of typhus have been reported in the city, an increase from 12 cases during the same period last year.

On average, the city typically sees about 20 cases in an entire year.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.aol.com/news/flea-borne-typhus-infections-rise-235232747.html

Flea-borne typhus infections are on the rise in SoCal: How to protect yourself and your pets
LA Times
Karen Garcia
Tue, August 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM EDT

The disease occurs year-round in areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties, but cases tend to peak during late summer and fall months.

So far this year, 79 cases of flea-borne typhus — confirmed, probable or suspected — have been reported in Los Angeles County, except for the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, according to the county Public Health Department. For all of last year, the county had a total of 187 cases and it estimated 124 cases in 2023.

The city of Long Beach reported 20 cases as of July 31, a jump from 12 cases during the same period in 2024. On average the city has reported 20 cases each year, and "if this trend continues, Long Beach is expected to surpass its 2021 record of 28 cases reported in a single year," according to the city's Department of Health and Human Services....

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://smmirror.com/2025/08/santa-...luster-under-investigation-as-l-a-cases-rise/

Santa Monica Flea-Borne Typhus Cluster Under Investigation as L.A. Cases Rise
SM Mirror
August 31, 2025​
County Confirms 106 Cases So Far in 2025 After a Record 187 Last Year

Health officials are warning Los Angeles County residents to take steps to protect themselves and their pets after a sharp rise in flea-borne typhus cases this year.
The Department of Public Health said it has already confirmed 106 cases in 2025, surpassing totals from the same period last year. The increase follows a record 187 cases identified in 2024. Officials expect numbers to climb further in late summer and fall, when infections typically peak.
Earlier this year, a cluster of cases was investigated in Central Los Angeles, and a second outbreak is currently under review in Santa Monica...




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[Pathfinder]

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Key Points:

• Cases of flea-borne typhus (FBT) in humans in Los Angeles (LA) County have increased
significantly in recent years.
• In 2025, clusters of FBT human cases have occurred in Central Los Angeles and Santa
Monica.
• We are requesting assistance from veterinarians and animal health facilities in educating
the public both about flea-borne typhus, and crucial steps to counteract fleas on pets in
the community.

Dear Animal Health Colleagues:

In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of flea-borne typhus
(FBT) cases reported in people in LA County (see graph below). Although FBT often causes mild
disease, reported cases tend to be more severe. Over the last 10 years, 86% of reported cases in LA
County have required hospitalization.

In 2025, clusters of cases have been detected in Central LA and Santa Monica. The LA County
Department of Public Health recently sent out a press release and an alert to human healthcare
providers in LA County as a result. Since animal health workers play such a crucial role in
controlling fleas on pets and in educating the community, we are requesting your assistance as
well.​

What is flea-borne typhus (FBT)?

FBT is an illness caused by the bacteria Rickettsia typhi. In the United States, cases occur in Texas,
Hawaii, and southern California. People usually get infected after scratching a bite from an
infected flea, or by introducing flea feces into the bite wound. The incubation period for FBT in a
person is about 1-2 weeks. Common clinical signs in a person may include fever, headache, chills,
muscle aches, and rash on or around the chest, sides, and back. Rash does not appear in all
cases. Anyone who might have FBT is strongly advised to consult a healthcare provider, who can
test for exposure to Rickettsia typhi and can provide treatment.

People are more likely to be exposed to FBT when spending time near flea-infested animals.
Therefore, flea control is a central part of prevention of this disease. FBT is not known to cause
illness in any animals.​

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http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/docs/AHAN/AHAN_IncreasingFleaBorneTyphusInPeopleLAC_09032025 .pdf

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See also:

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...orting-an-increase-in-flea-borne-typhus-cases

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ibtimes.com.au/la-count...borne-typhus-outbreak-90-hospitalized-1865547

LA County Reports Record Flea-Borne Typhus Outbreak With 90% Hospitalized
By Jerry Thompson
Published 04/06/26 AT 7:15 PM AEST

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County health officials are sounding the alarm after reporting a record 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025, the highest number ever documented in the county, with nearly 90% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the surge Thursday, highlighting a continued upward trend from 187 cases in 2024 and marking a sharp increase from previous years. The bacterial infection, transmitted primarily through fleas carried by rats, free-roaming cats and opossums, has prompted urgent calls for residents to protect themselves and their pets through simple preventive measures...

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[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.todayville.com/edmonton/the-typhus-rats-of-los-angeles/


The Typhus Rats of Los Angeles
Todayville
Published 1 day ago
18 minute read
Christopher F. Rufo's avatar Christopher F. Rufo and Ryan Thorpe's avatar Ryan Thorpe


Rats have been with us since the beginning. For thousands of years, wherever humans settled land, built cities, or crossed oceans, rats were never far behind, constructing a civilization of their own beneath our feet.​..

...Since 2009, the number of flea-borne typhus cases in L.A. has increased by a staggering 2,300 percent. Last year, the county recorded more cases than at any point in its history. Some patients have died. Behind the scenes, the authorities responsible for protecting the public admit that they lack the resources they need to get the situation under control...

...In other words, in Los Angeles, in 2026, thinking that private pest control can keep you safe from rats is a bit like thinking you can bail water out of a sinking ship faster than it pours in through multiple holes.

This year, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health provided an update—obtained via public-records request—on its typhus-surveillance efforts. In the presentation, public health officials admit that the “increasing volume of cases is quickly exceeding capacity to investigate and respond,” and note that the department receives “no funding specifically for flea-borne typhus related activities.”...

...Last week, L.A. announced yet another flea-borne typhus outbreak, this time in the Pico-Union neighborhood, where five people have been hospitalized so far this year...


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