Gulf Coast officials warn against dangerous flea

Key Points:

• A study by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) reveals that murine typhus, a flea-borne disease once thought nearly eradicated, has established a presence in Galveston County, with 149 cases identified between 2019 and 2023.
• Nearly 80% of patients required hospitalization, with about 30% admitted to intensive care; two deaths were reported, highlighting the disease's severity especially among elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
• Murine typhus is transmitted primarily by fleas infesting opossums and feral cats, common in suburban and semi-rural areas, and its symptoms often mimic other febrile illnesses, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
• The disease, treatable with antibiotics like doxycycline, remains endemic in Southeast Texas, with recent data showing ongoing cases in Galveston County through 2026, supported by community reports of severe illness and hospitalizations.
• The resurgence is linked to the decline in pesticide use since the 1940s, and challenges persist due to the lack of real-time testing, increasing diagnostic costs and complicating timely medical intervention.