Los Angeles County Health Department Reports Record Flea‑Borne Typhus Outbreak in Pico‑Union

Los Angeles County health officials confirmed a localized outbreak of flea‑borne typhus in the Pico‑Union neighborhood. Five residents were hospitalized after being infected with Rickettsia typhi; all have since recovered.

The outbreak occurs as the county records a historic increase in cases, reaching 220 in 2025, up from 187 the previous year. Nearly nine out of ten diagnosed patients in 2025 required hospitalization, underscoring the disease’s severity.

County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis urged residents to keep pets on year‑round flea control, avoid stray animals, and limit wildlife access to homes. Public health guidance also includes using EPA‑registered insect repellents, securing trash, and reporting stray rodents or opossums.

Flea‑borne typhus is transmitted by fleas carrying the Rickettsia typhi bacteria, commonly found on rats, free‑roaming cats and opossums. Early antibiotic treatment is effective, and the illness does not spread from person to person.