Trending Now - Record Typhus Surge in L.A. County Sparks Health Concerns
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles County Public Health Department reported 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025.
Patch - Health officials in Los Angeles County are warning residents about the risks of flea-borne typhus.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - There were 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles County in 2025, a 17% increase from 187 cases in 2024.
Patch - Among the 220 cases in 2025, nearly 90% of those infected required hospitalization.
Patch - Three localized outbreaks of typhus were reported in Central Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Willowbrook in 2025.
Los Angeles Times - Symptoms of flea-borne typhus include fever, headache, chills, body aches, and a rash.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - Typhus cases were reported across Los Angeles County, specifically in Central Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Willowbrook.
Patch - Long Beach recorded 34 typhus cases between January and mid-October 2025.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The number of typhus cases in Los Angeles County increased from 171 in 2022 to 220 in 2025, with a slight decrease to 124 cases in 2023.
Patch - In 2022, three people died from flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles County, all of whom were adults with underlying conditions.
Los Angeles Times - The number of typhus cases in Los Angeles County has increased since 2021, when there were 141 recorded cases.
Patch - The record number of 220 cases in 2025 is the highest ever recorded in Los Angeles County.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - Fleas become infected with the bacterium Rickettsia typhi when they bite infected animals such as rats, stray cats, or opossums.
Patch - Conditions that attract rats, such as homeless encampments and accumulated trash, have been linked to typhus outbreaks.
HOW:
Los Angeles Times - Symptoms of flea-borne typhus typically appear within one to two weeks after infection.
Los Angeles Times - People are often exposed to typhus when infected fleas are carried indoors on pets or other animals.
Los Angeles Times - The disease is treatable with antibiotics, and early diagnosis helps prevent severe illness and hospitalization.
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 19:24 UTC)
The number of typhus cases in Los Angeles County rose from 171 in 2022 to 220 in 2025, but saw a decrease to 124 cases in 2023. In 2022, three adults with underlying conditions died from flea-borne typhus in the county. Symptoms of this illness typically appear within one to two weeks after infection.
--
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 17:12 UTC)
Health officials in Los Angeles County are sounding the alarm about flea-borne typhus, with a record 220 cases reported in 2025, marking a 17% increase from the previous year. Nearly 90% of those infected required hospitalization, and outbreaks were noted in Central Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Willowbrook, with Long Beach also recording 34 cases. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body aches, and a rash, but the disease is treatable with antibiotics, and early diagnosis is crucial for preventing severe illness.