Health officials in Long Beach are urging residents to take steps to reduce flea exposure and protect public health after confirming a higher than average number of flea-borne typhus infections so far this year.
As of July 31, 2025, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has reported 20 confirmed cases of typhus, a significant increase compared to the 12 cases reported during the same period last year. Officials say that if current trends continue, the city may surpass its previous record of 28 annual cases, set in 2021.
Flea-borne typhus is a bacterial disease transmitted to humans through infected fleas, which are typically found on animals such as rats, opossums, and stray or feral cats. The disease is not contagious from person to person…