Flea-Borne Typhus Surges in Los Angeles: 4 Things to Know

Typhus is generally transmitted to people through fleas, lice, or chiggers, officials say.

A file photo shows a rat flea. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Officials in Los Angeles County have confirmed a recent surge in flea-borne typhus cases, with levels reaching all-time highs for the area.

Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health said in a statement earlier this month that nine out of 10 people who had the typhus infection required hospitalization. At least 220 cases of typhus were identified in 2025, which the department said is the highest number recorded in the county’s history and which surpassed the 187 cases that were reported in the previous year.

How Typhus Spreads

Typhus is caused by either the Rickettsia or Orientia bacteria, transmitted to people via fleas, lice, or chiggers, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is not considered contagious among people, but in some living conditions, lice can spread the disease from one person to another.