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The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is alerting the public about flea-borne typhus, a flea borne illness. Eight (8) cases of flea borne typhus have been reported among Long Beach residents throughout the City. All of the reported cases had exposure to fleas that carry the illness, possibly through contact with opossums, cats or rodents. Prior to 2006, murine typhus was not known to be present in the City of Long Beach.
Flea borne typhus is a disease spread by fleas living on rodents (rats, mice), opossums, cats, and raccoons. People get the disease through the bites of infected fleas. Flea borne typhus is not spread from person to person. The most common symptoms of typhus are high fevers, severe headaches, body aches and a rash. The disease is rarely fatal.
Public Health Officials will continue to monitor and test for evidence of the disease in areas throughout the City. Health Department staff will be distributing informational door hangers in areas where flea-borne typhus has been reported. These flyers are also available on the department's website at www.longbeach.gov/health. Area veterinarians are being issued a letter requesting they educate pet owners on the importance of flea control in preventing this disease. The Health Department has also issued letters to area health care providers providing guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of flea borne typhus.
Public Health Officials are urging residents to protect themselves and their neighbors by following a few simple guidelines:
1. Consult your veterinarian regarding safe flea control medications for your pets;
2. Keep your home and yard in good repair by removing overgrown vegetation and debris where rodents, opossums and feral (wild) cats may hide. Keep screens on crawl space covers and vents in good repair.
3. Avoid contact with animals that carry fleas. Do not attempt to capture and relocate these animals to other areas;
4. Eliminate all food and water sources around your home, including open trash cans, fallen fruit around the yard, pet food, and bird feeders;
5. When cleaning nesting areas of rats and opossums, spray area with disinfectant, and wear protective clothing and equipment (i.e., mask, goggles, gloves);
6. When treating your yard or animal harborage areas with insecticides, only use products labeled for "flea control," and follow all directions carefully;
7. Contact the Health Department’s Animal Control Division at (562) 570-7387 if you have questions about managing opossums and stray or feral cats on your property;
8. Report dead opossums or cats to Animal Control for removal.
For more information about flea borne typhus, please contact the Health Department’s Epidemiology Program at (562) 570-4302.
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