Cases of Murine Typhus Increasing in Texas

The number of people infected with the fleaborne disease increased from 27 cases in 2003 to 222 in 2013

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Ctenocephalides felis, a parasitic fleaWIKIMEDIA, KATJA ZSM

Murine typhus, a bacterial disease carried by fleas and lice, is on the rise in Texas, researchers reported last last week (March 22) in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Rickettsia, the bacteria behind typhus, as well as spotted fever and other diseases, is most commonly carried by rodents and opossums. Murine typhus sufferers typically experience fever and other flu-like symptoms as well as a distinctive rash. If left untreated, the disease can cause damage to organs, including the liver, heart, and brain. Melissa Nolan Garcia, a study co-author and pediatric tropical medicine instructor at Baylor College of Medicine, told STAT that murine typhus was traditionally found in southern Texas, where poverty is more widespread. “However, when we are starting to see more cases in San Antonio, Houston, ...

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Meet the Author

  • Diana Kwon

    Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life.
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