Rats and Trash Fuel Typhus Outbreak in Los Angeles' Skid Row

Public health officials in Los Angeles are sounding the alarm after a Typhus outbreak has forced city officials to declare downtown's Skid Row a 'Typhus zone.'

The Los Angeles county Department of Public Health says there have been 92 cases of flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles county, including 20 in Pasadena and another possible 18 cases in Long Beach. 

"Although typhus normally occurs throughout LA County, we are observing several cases in the downtown Los Angeles area," Dr. Muntu Davis, the county's health officer, said in a release announcing the outbreak.

"We encourage pet owners to practice safe flea control and encourage all cities in the county to ensure maintenance of their trash clean-up and rodent control activities," Davis added.

Downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row, made up of roughly 54 square blocks where more than 4,000 homeless congregate, has been declared a 'typhus zone.' 

Experts say one of the biggest contributors to the outbreak is piles of rat-infested trash that was piling up on one of the streets that connects downtown L.A. An investigation by KNBC showed trash piling up in neighborhoods across downtown L.A. Complaints to the city's 311 number to pick up the trash often went unanswered. L.A.'s Mayor Eric Garcetti called the situation "disgusting and it's unacceptable." 

In response to the report on the rats, trash and typhus, Garcetti says he's dedicating $300,000 to fortifying neighborhood trash pick up, sidewalk washing, and street cleaning in the skid row neighborhood.

“We are continuing to see cases of flea-borne typhus throughout Los Angeles County, so it is important that everyone takes steps to reduce their risk of infection,” said Davis. “Typhus infection can be prevented through flea control measures on pets, using insect repellent to avoid flea bites, and clearing areas that can attract wild or stray animals like cats, rats and opossums.”

Typhus is a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas and is usually characterized by a person coming down with fever and chills, body aches and muscle pain. A rash on the chest, back, arms or legs is also sometimes present. Signs of the infection can begin to show up between 6 and 14 days after having contact with an infected flea the county health department said on its website. Typhus is rarely fatal and is easily treated with antibiotics. 

Photo: Getty Images


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