{"id":99593,"date":"2026-04-06T02:01:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/typhus-from-fleas-hits-record-level-in-l-a-here-are-the-hot-spots\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T02:01:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:01:50","slug":"typhus-from-fleas-hits-record-level-in-l-a-here-are-the-hot-spots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/typhus-from-fleas-hits-record-level-in-l-a-here-are-the-hot-spots\/","title":{"rendered":"Typhus from fleas hits record level in L.A.:\u00a0Here are the hot spots"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Attention pet parents: Los Angeles County is reporting a record number of flea-borne typhus cases. <\/p>\n

Public health officials are warning pet owners to take precautions for themselves and their four-legged family members. Fret not: There are several simple precautions you can take to prevent a flea-borne typhus infection. <\/p>\n

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department identified 220 cases of flea-borne typhus last year, a stark increase over the 187 cases in 2024<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Of the total number of cases in 2025, nearly 9 out of 10 people infected with typhus required hospitalization, according to public health officials. <\/p>\n

Flea-borne typhus is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi. <\/i>Fleas become infected when they bite infected animals such as rats, stray cats or opossums, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>. Once infected, the flea spreads the disease to humans when flea feces is rubbed into cuts or scrapes on the skin or the eyes. <\/p>\n

The number of typhus cases in the county has increased since 2021<\/a>, when there were 141 recorded cases, rising to 171 in 2022. There was a slight decrease in 2023 with 124 cases, but the number picked back up in 2024. <\/p>\n

Typhus hot spots in Los Angeles County<\/h2>\n

Cases have been reported across Los Angeles County, but authorities identified three localized outbreaks in 2025. <\/p>\n

The outbreaks occurred in central Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook near Compton, according to public health officials. <\/p>\n

Why last year\u2019s numbers matter today<\/h2>\n

Typhus cases occur year-round but tend to peak during the late summer and fall months because the warmer weather increases flea activity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who is at risk of contracting flea-borne typhus<\/h2>\n

Everyone is at risk of contracting typhus. <\/p>\n

The ages of the people infected in Los Angeles in 2025 ranged from 1 to 85, according to public health officials.<\/p>\n

People who live outdoors or in housing infested with rats or other rodents face a high risk of contracting the disease, according to public health officials. <\/p>\n

How to protect yourself and your pet<\/h2>\n

Often, people are exposed to the disease when infected fleas are carried indoors on pets or other animals. <\/p>\n

Fleas that spread typhus are commonly found on stray animals, rodents and other wildlife, according to public health officials. <\/p>\n

What you can do to protect yourself and your pets:<\/p>\n