Los Angeles is experiencing another outbreak of typhus.
New cases of the flea-borne disease were reported in Willowbrook and the Los Angeles region is seeing a rise in the disease over the past ten years.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Typhus outbreaks are often associated with poor hygiene and overcrowding. More people have been falling sick with typhus in Los Angeles County over the last decade, though experts are unsure why.
The latest cases bring the county total to at least 83 this year. There were five in all of 2008, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“We expect to continue to see clusters of flea-borne typhus throughout L.A. County,” health officials wrote in an alert to doctors on Friday.
CNN also reported on the cases of typhus in Los Angeles County.
A rise in typhus, a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas, has hit the Los Angeles area, and public health officials are sounding the alarm.
As of Monday, there have been 57 cases of flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles County, the county Department of Public Health said.
Los Angeles Public Health officials issued a press release on the typhus outbreaks:
Public Health Reports Several Cases of Flea-Borne Typhus
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is investigating an outbreak involving several cases of flea-borne typhus in downtown Los Angeles and is working with the city of Los Angeles to implement environmental safety measures to reduce the spread of the disease.
Flea-borne typhus is a disease that infected fleas can spread to humans. Bacteria (Rickettsia typhi and R. felis) found in infected fleas, and their feces, cause typhus. Fleas can come from many types of animals including cats, rats, and opossums. Although pets and animals do not get sick from typhus, typhus can cause high fever, chills, headache, and rash in people and can be treated with antibiotics. Places where there is an accumulation of trash that attract wild animals like feral cats, rats and opossums that may carry an infected flea may increase the risk of exposure. Typhus is not transmitted person-by-person.
“Although typhus normally occurs throughout LA County, we are observing several cases in the downtown Los Angeles area,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “We encourage pet owners to practice safe flea control and encourage all cities in the county to ensure maintenance of their trash clean-up and rodent control activities.”
To help prevent typhus:
Practice safe flea control
Use flea control products on your pets.
When outside, wear pants tucked into socks or boots. Spray insect repellent with DEET on socks and pant cuffs.
Avoid being near wild or stray animals
Never feed or touch wild animals, especially opossums, rats, stray, or feral cats.
Store your trash in cans with secure lids to avoid attracting animals.
Get rid of places where rats and stray animals sleep, hide, or find food, like crawl spaces, attics, or under decks. Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a mask when cleaning these areas. Wash your hands when you’re finished.
Public Health is partnering with the City of Los Angeles and community partners to continue surveillance activities, to interview and treat those affected and to reduce the environmental risk for this disease. For rodent complaints in the City of Los Angeles, call 3-1-1. For other cities, call LA County 2-1-1.For more information regarding flea-borne typhus, visit: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/VectorTyphus.htm or call LA County 2-1-1.
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of over 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,100 employees and has an annual budget of $1 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lapublichealth, facebook.com/lapublichealth and youtube.com/lapublichealth.
It’s possible the rise of typhus in Los Angeles County is associated with the homeless problem in the area.
