Localized outbreak of flea-born typhus reported in L.A. neighborhood

Key Points:

• The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Wilshire Center neighborhood, with seven symptomatic cases identified, six of whom were hospitalized but have since recovered.
• This is the second outbreak reported this year in the county, following an earlier cluster in the Pico-Union neighborhood, amid a rising trend of flea-borne typhus cases countywide, with 109 cases reported so far in 2026.
• Flea-borne typhus is caused by Rickettsia Typhi bacteria transmitted through infected fleas commonly found on rats, free-roaming cats, and opossums; symptoms include fever, headache, rash, and body aches, and early antibiotic treatment is effective.
• The health department advises residents to use flea control on pets, avoid contact with wild or stray animals, maintain clean and rodent-proof properties, and seek medical care promptly if symptoms develop.
• Officials emphasize that preventing exposure to fleas on free-roaming animals and wildlife is critical as cases continue to rise, urging community cooperation to reduce the risk of infection.