The Brief

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging residents to take precautions due to a rise in flea-borne typhus cases.

The county is currently investigating outbreaks in central Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

By the numbers:

Flea-borne typhus cases have been rising in Los Angeles County since 2010.

The county identified a record 187 cases in 2024. In 2025, there have already been 106 reported cases, which is a higher number than at this same time last year.

Public health officials anticipate more cases in the coming months, as infections typically peak in the late summer and fall.

What we know:

Flea-borne typhus is a preventable illness caused by the bacterium "Rickettsia typhi."

It is spread by infected fleas and is not t

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