Los Angeles County investigates flea-borne typhus outbreak

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a flea-borne typhus outbreak in the Wilshire Center neighborhood, where seven cases have been confirmed and six patients were hospitalized before recovering. The department said the county has recorded 109 cases of the bacterial disease so far this year, a figure above pre-2020 levels but below the 2025 record of 220 cases.

Flea-borne typhus, caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi, is transmitted when infected flea feces enter bite wounds or are inhaled as dust. Symptoms typically appear about a week after exposure and include fever, headache, vomiting and a rash. The infection is not spread person-to-person and is treatable with antibiotics.

"As flea-borne typhus cases continue to increase across Los Angeles County, preventing exposure to fleas on free-roaming animals and wildlife is more important than ever," said Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer.

The health department advises residents to keep pets treated for fleas year-round, avoid handling or feeding wild animals, maintain clean yards and trash areas, and seal potential entry points for rodents and other small mammals. People experiencing homelessness are identified as having higher risk, though cases have occurred across a wide range of housing and socioeconomic situations.

"Simple steps can prevent serious illness," Davis added.