LA County sees all-time high of flea-borne typhus cases, health officials say

Los Angeles County is experiencing a record number of flea-borne typhus cases, county health officials said Thursday.

There were 220 cases in 2025 — an uptick from 187 in 2024 and the highest-ever recorded — with around 90% of the people affected needing to be hospitalized, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. People ages 1 to 85 years old were impacted.

While cases were reported across the county, three localized outbreaks were being investigated in Central LA, Santa Monica and the Willowbrook neighborhood, the department added.

Typhus is a bacterial infection that spreads through infected fleas, which can be carried indoors through pets or animals — mostly strays, rodents and other wildlife. It does not spread from person to person.

Symptoms such as fevers, headaches, nausea and rashes can appear within one or two weeks after becoming infected, health officials said. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, especially with an early diagnosis.

Since animals can appear healthy despite carrying infected fleas, county health officials are encouraging people to take the following precautions:

• Use flea control products on your pets year-round and keep them indoors as much as possible
• Don’t feed or handle stray animals
• Make sure your trash is secure, with entry and hiding points blocked