Flea-borne typhus surge hits record cases in LA

Tiny disease-carrying fleas are on the prowl in Los Angeles, targeting residents’ pets if proper precautions aren’t taken, public health officials warned.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported a record 220 flea-borne typhus cases last year, the department said Thursday. Nearly 9 out of 10 of those identified as infected with typhus need hospitalization, they added.

LA County officials are advising residents “precautions now to protect themselves and their pets,” including using flea control on their pets, avoiding stray animals, and blocking wildlife from entering their home or trash.

“Flea-borne typhus can cause serious illness, but it is preventable with simple steps,” Muntu Davis, a Los Angeles County Health Officer, said.

“With cases at an all-time high and most requiring hospitalization, it’s critical that people take simple steps now, such as routinely using flea control on their pets, avoiding contact with stray animals, and preventing wildlife from living in or around their homes,” Davis added.

Cases reported last year included three localized outbreaks in Central Los Angeles City, the City of Santa Monica and the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook in South LA County.

Flea-borne Typhus can affect anyone from age 1 to 85, the county said. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, rash, and body aches — which typically pop up after 1 to 2 weeks.

People can get infected when flea poop enters the body through cuts or scrapes in the skin or if rubbed into the eyes. Pets can carry the fleas into the house and do not typically show signs of illness.

Almost all detected cases can be treated with antibiotics, but some of those who do not treat the disease promptly are hospitalized, the CDC said. Deaths from the disease are estimated to be less than 1% of all cases.

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