[Breitbart] Health officials warn that an outbreak of flea-borne typhus is now taking place in downtown Los Angeles.| That would be murine or endemic typhus, which occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe including southern California, Texas, and Hawaii. Symptoms include include headache, fever, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. About half of patients develop a rash six days after they fall ill, and about half experience confusion, stupor, seizures or imbalance. While it can be deadly if untreated, the antibiotic doxycycline is the CDC’s drug of choice. |
Fleas with typhus are a danger in "areas where there is an accumulation of trash," as such an accumulation attracts wild cats, opossums, and other animals.
At this time, the county health department recommends pet owners "Use flea control products on pets." They also recommend that people "wear pants tucked into socks or boots when outside" and "spray insect repellent with DEET on socks and pant cuffs."