Record number of people in L.A. catching typhus - a serious disease - from fleas
The Seattle Times • • general
Key Points:
- Los Angeles County reported a record 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025, up from 187 cases in 2024, with nearly 90% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization.
- Flea-borne typhus, caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi, is transmitted to humans through flea feces entering cuts or scrapes, with infected fleas often found on rodents, stray cats, and opossums.
- Three localized outbreaks occurred in 2025 in central Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Willowbrook, with cases peaking during warmer months due to increased flea activity.
- Public health officials advise year-round flea control on pets, avoiding contact with stray animals, and securing trash and food sources to reduce risk of infection.
- Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body aches, and rash; early antibiotic treatment is effective, though severe cases and deaths have occurred, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions.
