LA County warns of flea-borne typhus outbreak in Pico-Union
Five residents of the Pico-Union neighborhood were hospitalized with flea-borne typhus, prompting health officials to urge preventive measures as countywide cases rise.
Los Angeles County health officials reported a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Pico-Union neighborhood, where five people have been hospitalized and have since recovered. The cases are part of a broader increase in the disease across the county, which saw 220 infections in 2025.
The bacterium Rickettsia typhi is transmitted by infected fleas that often hitch rides on pets, rodents, stray cats and opossums. Health authorities note that nearly nine out of ten patients diagnosed with the illness in 2025 required hospitalization.
"As flea-borne typhus cases continue to increase across Los Angeles County, preventing exposure to infected fleas is more important than ever," said Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis. "Community members can help protect themselves and their neighbors by keeping pets on flea control year-round, avoiding stray animals, and making sure wildlife cannot live in or around their homes."
Symptoms typically appear one to two weeks after exposure and may include fever, headache, rash, body aches, chills, nausea and vomiting. Officials advise anyone with these signs, especially after contact with fleas or animals, to seek medical care promptly. The disease is treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed early and does not spread from person to person.
Public health recommendations include using flea-control products on pets throughout the year, keeping pets indoors when possible, avoiding stray animals, maintaining clean yards, securing trash containers and reporting sightings of rodents, stray cats or opossums to animal control.