Pictured here is the rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) which can spread the bacteria that causes typhus by biting and pooping on you, which is lovely. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Fleas bite and aren’t potty trained. That’s why there’s now an outbreak of typhus in downtown Los Angeles, as announced by the Los Angeles Department of Health.

Here’s a CBS Los Angeles news segment on the outbreak:

Since July, there have been 9 reported cases of typhus in Los Angeles, specifically Pasadena, which qualifies as an outbreak. That brings the number of reported cases for 2018 to 20 for Pasadena and 12 for Long Beach, California, as Dennis Romero and Andrew Blankstein reported for NBC News. For both places, that’s been over twice what would normally be expected. Yes, it’s been literally a more poopy year in the Los Angeles area, and there is still 3 more months to go in this year. Poopy? How so? Read on.

Mind you, this isn’t epidemic typhus, which can be caused by the bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii and spread by body lice, or scrub typhus, which can be caused by the bacteria  Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread by chiggers (larval mites). Nah, this is flea-borne or murine typhus, which can be caused by Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia felis bacteria and can be spread by, you guessed it, fleas. Its called murine because rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) most commonly carry these bacteria, followed by cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). The online dictionary, dictionary.com, defines murine as “belonging or pertaining to the Muridae, the family of rodents that includes the mice and rats.” Therefore, if anyone calls you “murine” or invites you to a “murine” party, watch out.

Now here’s the poop. You can get typhus when a flea carrying the bacteria bites you or infectious flea poop gets rubbed into breaks in your skin or mucous membranes like your eyes. Fleas typically don’t use tiny little toilets when they go Number 2. They can just “bust a grumpy” right on your skin. As if that weren’t rude enough, they can bite you at the same time so that the poop gets rubbed into your wound, allowing whatever bacteria is in their poop to access your bloodstream. Biting you and pooping on you are not the marks of good guests, in most cases.

Once you are infected with the bacteria, symptoms (if they do occur) usually arise in about 1 to 2 weeks. Symptoms can include a suddenly occurring fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, or vomiting that typically last a few days. You may also develop a maculopapular rash, which means a rash that’s both flat and bumpy, which is a bit like Los Angeles. Symptoms can get so bad that you need to get hospitalized, which has been the case for all 9 cases in Pasadena. Severe typhus can lead to problems with your liver, kidneys, lungs, eyes, heart, or brain, all quite important organs.

If you are older or have a deficiency of the G6PD enzyme, you may be at higher risk for more severe disease. Fortunately, death occurs in only about 2% to 4% of people who are not treated. So far, no deaths have resulted from this outbreak in Los Angeles.

Besides rats and cats, possums can also carry the bacteria that cause typhus. Fleas can get the bacteria by biting these infected animals and then transfer them to you. (Photo by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Keep in mind that the number of reported cases like the number of admitted “Hello Kitty” fans is always less than the number of actual cases. It’s not as if a notification appears on your forehead, “you’ve got typhus and 3 new likes on Instagram,” when you are infected. Many people may not realize that they have typhus, especially if they have mild or no symptoms, and never see a doctor. Plus, a doctor has to recognize typhus and report it to public health officials for a case to be reported.

There is treatment for typhus: the antibiotic doxycycline. Early treatment, as soon as symptoms appear, can help you recover quickly. But if you think you have typhus, see your doctor. Don’t just assume that you have typhus because you play with flea poop and then pop antibiotics as if they were candy.

How do you prevent typhus? There is no vaccine yet for anti-vaxxers to spread rumors and conspiracies about. Instead, the California Department of Public Health says “the key to preventing flea-borne typhus is to avoid direct contact with fleas,” which, of course, makes perfect sense. They also urge you to “discourage rats, opossums, feral cats, and other wild animals from visiting or living around your home.” Thus, if you are going to have a party, cross those rats and feral cats off your eVite list. Also, refrain from leaving food or garbage exposed outside, trim vegetation around buildings, keep your pets flea free, and don’t let Garfield roam the neighborhood looking for fleas.

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(******* )(********* )Envisioned here is the rat flea( Xenopsylla cheopis) which can spread out the germs that triggers typhus by biting and pooping on you, which is beautiful.( Image by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Fleas bite and aren’t potty trained. That’s why there’s now a break out of typhus in downtown Los Angeles, as revealed by the Los Angeles Department of Health

Here’s a CBS Los Angeles news section on the break out:

(***** )

Because July, there have actually been 9 reported cases of typhus in Los Angeles, particularly Pasadena, which certifies as a break out. That brings the variety of reported cases for 2018 to 20 for Pasadena and 12 for Long Beach, California, as Dennis Romero and Andrew Blankstein reported for NBC News For both locations, that’s been over two times what would usually be anticipated. Yes, it’s been actually a more poopy year in the Los Angeles location, and there is still 3 more months to enter this year. Poopy? How so? Keep reading.

Mind you, this isn’t(*************** )epidemic typhus, which can be brought on by the germs Rickettsia prowazekii and spread out by body lice, or scrub typhus, which can be brought on by the germs Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread out by chiggers (larval termites). Nah, this is flea-borne or murine typhus, which can be brought on by Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia felis germs and can be spread out by, you thought it, fleas. Its called murine since rat fleas ( Xenopsylla cheopis) most typically bring these germs, followed by feline fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis). The online dictionary, dictionary.com, specifies murine as “ belonging or relating to the Muridae, the household of rodents that consists of the mice and rats.” For that reason, if anybody calls you “murine” or welcomes you to a “murine” celebration, beware.

Now here’s the poop. You can get typhus when a flea bring the germs bites you or contagious flea poop gets rubbed into breaks in your skin or mucous membranes like your eyes. Fleas generally do not utilize small little toilets when they go Number 2. They can simply “bust a bad-tempered” right on your skin. As if that weren’t impolite enough, they can bite you at the very same time so that the poop gets rubbed into your injury, permitting whatever germs remains in their poop to access your blood stream. Biting you and pooping on you are not the marks of great visitors, for the most part.

(************************** )

When you are contaminated with the germs, signs( if they do take place) typically develop in about 1 to 2 weeks. Signs can consist of an unexpectedly happening fever, headache, chills, muscle pains, stomach discomfort, or throwing up that generally last a couple of days. You might likewise establish a maculopapular rash, which indicates a rash that’s both flat and rough, which is a bit like Los Angeles. Signs can get so bad that you require to get hospitalized, which has actually held true for all 9 cases in Pasadena. Extreme typhus can result in issues with your liver, kidneys, lungs, eyes, heart, or brain, all rather crucial organs.

If you are older or have a shortage of the G6PD enzyme, you might be at greater danger for more serious illness. Thankfully, death takes place in just about 2% to 4% of individuals who are not dealt with. Up until now, no deaths have actually arised from this break out in Los Angeles.

Besides rats and felines, possums can likewise bring the germs that trigger typhus. Fleas can get the germs by biting these contaminated animals and after that move them to you. (Image by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston World by means of Getty Images)

Bear in mind that the variety of reported cases like the variety of confessed “Hey there Cat” fans is constantly less than the variety of real cases. It’s not as if an alert appears on your forehead, “you have actually got typhus and 3 brand-new likes on Instagram,” when you are contaminated. Many individuals might not understand that they have typhus, specifically if they have moderate or no signs, and never ever see a physician. Plus, a physician needs to acknowledge typhus and report it to public health authorities for a case to be reported.

There is treatment for typhus: the antibiotic doxycycline. Early treatment, as quickly as signs appear, can assist you recuperate rapidly. However if you believe you have typhus, see your physician. Do not simply presume that you have typhus since you have fun with flea poop and after that pop prescription antibiotics as if they were sweet.

How do you avoid typhus? There is no vaccine yet for anti-vaxxers to spread out reports and conspiracies about. Rather, the California Department of Public Health states “the secret to avoiding flea-borne typhus is to prevent direct contact with fleas,” which, naturally, makes best sense. They likewise prompt you to “dissuade rats, opossums, feral felines, and other wild animals from going to or living around your house.” Therefore, if you are going to have a celebration, cross those rats and feral felines off your eVite list. Likewise, avoid leaving food or trash exposed outside, trim plant life around structures, keep your animals flea complimentary, and do not let Garfield stroll the community searching for fleas.

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949476278″ >

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Envisioned here is the rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) which can spread out the germs that triggers typhus by biting and pooping on you, which is beautiful. (Image by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

.

.

Fleas bite and aren’t potty trained. That’s why there’s now a break out of typhus in downtown Los Angeles, as revealed by the Los Angeles Department of Health

.

Here’s a CBS Los Angeles news section on the break out:

Because July, there have actually been 9 reported cases of typhus in Los Angeles, particularly Pasadena, which certifies as a break out. That brings the variety of reported cases for 2018 to 20 for Pasadena and 12 for Long Beach, California, as Dennis Romero and Andrew Blankstein reported for NBC News For both locations, that’s been over two times what would usually be anticipated. Yes, it’s been actually a more poopy year in the Los Angeles location, and there is still 3 more months to enter this year. Poopy? How so? Keep reading.

Mind you, this isn’t epidemic typhus, which can be brought on by the germs Rickettsia prowazekii and spread out by body lice, or scrub typhus, which can be brought on by the germs Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread out by chiggers (larval termites). Nah, this is flea-borne or murine typhus, which can be brought on by Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia felis germs and can be spread out by, you thought it, fleas. Its called murine since rat fleas ( Xenopsylla cheopis ) most typically bring these germs, followed by feline fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis ). The online dictionary, dictionary.com , specifies murine as” belonging or relating to the Muridae , the household of rodents that consists of the mice and rats.” For that reason, if anybody calls you “murine” or welcomes you to a “murine” celebration, beware.

Now here’s the poop. You can get typhus when a flea bring the germs bites you or contagious flea poop gets rubbed into breaks in your skin or mucous membranes like your eyes. Fleas generally do not utilize small little toilets when they go Number 2. They can simply “bust a bad-tempered” right on your skin. As if that weren’t impolite enough, they can bite you at the very same time so that the poop gets rubbed into your injury, permitting whatever germs remains in their poop to access your blood stream. Biting you and pooping on you are not the marks of great visitors, for the most part.

When you are contaminated with the germs, signs (if they do take place) typically develop in about 1 to 2 weeks. Signs can consist of an unexpectedly happening fever, headache, chills, muscle pains, stomach discomfort, or throwing up that generally last a couple of days. You might likewise establish a maculopapular rash, which indicates a rash that’s both flat and rough, which is a bit like Los Angeles. Signs can get so bad that you require to get hospitalized, which has actually held true for all 9 cases in Pasadena. Extreme typhus can result in issues with your liver, kidneys, lungs, eyes, heart, or brain, all rather crucial organs.

If you are older or have a shortage of the G6PD enzyme, you might be at greater danger for more serious illness. Thankfully, death takes place in just about 2 % to 4 % of individuals who are not dealt with. Up until now, no deaths have actually arised from this break out in Los Angeles.

.

.

Besides rats and felines, possums can likewise bring the germs that trigger typhus. Fleas can get the germs by biting these contaminated animals and after that move them to you. (Image by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston World by means of Getty Images)

.

.

Bear in mind that the variety of reported cases like the variety of confessed “Hey there Cat” fans is constantly less than the variety of real cases. It’s not as if an alert appears on your forehead, “you have actually got typhus and 3 brand-new likes on Instagram,” when you are contaminated. Many individuals might not understand that they have typhus, specifically if they have moderate or no signs, and never ever see a physician. Plus, a physician needs to acknowledge typhus and report it to public health authorities for a case to be reported.

There is treatment for typhus: the antibiotic doxycycline. Early treatment, as quickly as signs appear, can assist you recuperate rapidly. However if you believe you have typhus, see your physician. Do not simply presume that you have typhus since you have fun with flea poop and after that pop prescription antibiotics as if they were sweet.

How do you avoid typhus? There is no vaccine yet for anti-vaxxers to spread out reports and conspiracies about. Rather, the California Department of Public Health states “the secret to avoiding flea-borne typhus is to prevent direct contact with fleas,” which, naturally, makes best sense. They likewise prompt you to “dissuade rats, opossums, feral felines, and other wild animals from going to or living around your house.” Therefore, if you are going to have a celebration, cross those rats and feral felines off your eVite list. Likewise, avoid leaving food or trash exposed outside, trim plant life around structures, keep your animals flea complimentary, and do not let Garfield stroll the community searching for fleas.

.