Some areas of the U.S. are experiencing a boom in human cases of flea-borne murine typhus. Consequently, public health officials are hot on the trail for answers.
Flea-borne murine typhus is a bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi. Microscopic flea feces containing the bacteria can enter a person’s body through wounds or moist tissues and then cause infection.
In the past, rat fleas were the primary culprits, but now there’s another actor. Recently, DNA from Rickettsia typhi has been found in cat fleas collected from pets in affected geographic regions.
While these bacteria usually don’t make cats sick, control is important for human health. Cat parents can do their part by keeping their pets indoors and using a veterinarian-approved feline flea and tick preventative.