Health officials report record number of potentially fatal typhus cases: 'Everyone is at risk'

Key Points:

• Los Angeles County is experiencing a surge in flea-borne typhus cases, with 220 reported infections in 2025, marking the highest-ever recorded number and a nearly 20% increase from 187 cases in 2024.
• Typhus infections have been rising steadily since 2021, with nearly 90% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization, highlighting the illness's severity and broad public health impact across all age groups.
• Historically rare in the U.S., typhus cases drastically declined mid-20th century, but recent increases in California contrast sharply with past trends, as the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable list in 1987 due to low incidence.
• The resurgence of typhus and other vector-borne diseases like Lyme and Zika is linked to climate change, which expands the habitats and activity periods of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, increasing human exposure.
• Los Angeles County health officials recommend flea-prevention strategies for people and pets, use of EPA-approved insect repellents, awareness of typhus symptoms, and prompt medical care to mitigate the outbreak.