Los Angeles County health officials reported Wednesday a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Pico-Union neighborhood where five people became ill this year.
Five symptomatic cases associated with the outbreak have been identified, and all cases were hospitalized with all subsequently recovered.
“As flea-borne typhus cases continue to increase across Los Angeles County, preventing exposure to infected fleas is more important than ever,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “Community members can help protect themselves and their neighbors by keeping pets on flea control year-round, avoiding stray animals, and making sure wildlife cannot live in or around their homes.”
The outbreak comes at a time when flea-borne typhus has reached crisis levels across the county.
County officials reported a record 220 cases of flea-borne typhus in 2025, surpassing the previous record of 187 cases reported in 2024.
More alarming is the hospitalization rate among those infected.
Nearly nine out of every 10 people diagnosed with flea-borne typhus in 2025 required hospitalization, underscoring the seriousness of the disease.
The illness has steadily increased in Los Angeles County since 2010 and has affected residents ranging in age from one to 85 years old.
The disease spreads through contact with infected fleas, not between people directly.
In Los Angeles County, infected fleas are commonly found on rats, free-roaming cats and opossums.
People are often exposed to the disease in and around their homes when infected fleas are carried indoors on pets or other animals, officials said.
Health officials say this makes prevention difficult since carriers may show no symptoms.
Infected animals do not typically show signs of illness and flea-borne typhus does not spread from person to person.
Once infected, the disease can develop rapidly into a severe illness.
Symptoms generally develop one to two weeks after infection and can include fever, headache, rash, body aches, chills, nausea and vomiting.
Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Aiman Halai emphasized the danger in earlier statements.
“Some patients can develop severe illnesses in which multiple organ systems can be involved and really can result in death as well,” she said.
The good news is that the disease responds well to treatment when caught early.
It is treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed early and is not spread from person to person, officials said.
Davis urged residents in the Pico-Union area and across the county to act immediately.
Public Health recommends using flea control products on pets, keeping pets indoors as much as possible, not leaving pet food outdoors, and avoiding touching free-roaming animals.
Additional measures include securing the home and yard against wildlife.
Public Health urged residents to keep yards free of debris, secure trash containers and report stray animals, rodents or opossums.
The rise in typhus cases over recent years has alarmed public health authorities across California.
Flea-borne typhus has increased in Los Angeles since 2010, with an all time high of 220 cases in 2025, the highest ever number reported in L.A. County.
In the viral moment that sparked this public health alert, officials announced the Pico-Union cluster of cases as part of a broader warning campaign launched on Wednesday, July 30. Los Angeles County health officials reported a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Pico-Union neighborhood, where five people became ill this year, with all five people hospitalized but having since recovered. The announcement came as the county continued investigating earlier outbreaks. Infections have been reported across the county, with health officials currently investigating three concentrated outbreak areas in Central Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the Willowbrook neighborhood.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Health officials urged anyone experiencing symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to fleas or animals, to seek prompt medical care.