Cases of dangerous disease 'as old as the plague' hit record high in California
Cases of flea-borne typhus are rising in Southern California.
www.sfgate.comHere are the latest publicly reported updates on typhus from reputable outlets:
- Los Angeles County and southern California have seen record or rising cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025–2026, with health departments noting ongoing transmission, hospitalizations, and localized clusters in areas like Santa Monica and Central LA.[2][3][10]
- In India, scrub typhus has caused notable outbreaks in several districts of Andhra Pradesh in late 2024 into 2025, with thousands of tests conducted and large stockpiles of antibiotics as part of containment efforts.[1]
- National and local health reporting in other parts of the U.S. (e.g., Texas) also highlighted typhus as a rising concern after previous decades of control, signaling a broader pattern of increasing flea-borne cases.[7][8]
What this means for you in Los Angeles:
- Typhus remains a priority public health issue in the region, with ongoing surveillance and prevention efforts. If you develop fever, headache, rash, or body aches after potential flea exposure, seek medical attention promptly.
- Preventive steps include avoiding flea exposure, using repellent and protective clothing outdoors, keeping yards tidy to reduce flea habitats, and promptly treating pets for fleas.
If you’d like, I can pull a concise, up-to-date summary with links to official health department statements for LA County and a brief countrywide context. Please tell me which level of detail you prefer (brief overview vs. detailed timeline with sources).