US EditionLA County Public Health Reports Flea-Borne Typhus Cases at All-Time High
Nearly 9 in 10 patients were hospitalized, and health officials urged flea control and avoiding stray animals as infections reached a record high.
- Los Angeles County officials reported a record 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025, marking the highest number ever documented in the county.
- Flea-Borne typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi bacteria, spreads to humans through infected fleas carried by rodents, opossums, and stray cats, often entering homes on pets.
- Nearly 90% of those infected required hospitalization, highlighting the illness's severity; public health officials identified three localized outbreaks in 2025 within Central Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Willowbrook.
- Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis urged residents to take precautions, stating, "It's critical that people take simple steps now," including year-round flea control for pets and securing trash.
- The increase aligns with a broader upward trend observed since around 2010; the 2025 total rose from 187 cases in 2024, prompting officials to emphasize community-level prevention efforts.
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15 Articles
Record Number of Flea-Borne Typhus Cases Reported in Los Angeles County in 2025
Los Angeles County health officials said on April 2 that a record number of flea-borne typhus cases were reported in 2025. Last year, the county’s health department identified 220 cases, the highest-ever number recorded in the county, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This marked a rise from 187 cases in 2024. The ages of those infected ranged from 1 to 85 years old, officials said in a statement. People are often …
LACo Experiencing Record Number of Flea-Borne Typhus Cases
Concerns continued Friday over a record number of flea-borne typhus cases in Los Angeles County, with 220 reported so far this year and nearly 90% of patients requiring hospitalization. According to the county Department of Public Health, cases have been reported countywide, but localized outbreaks were confirmed in the Los Angeles Central City area, Santa Monica and Willowbrook. “Flea-borne typhus can cause serious illness, but it is preventabl…
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