Typhus is a disease that many believed had faded into history, but recent reports indicate a troubling revival, particularly in Texas. Health officials are sounding the alarm as cases of this flea-borne illness continue to rise. In a recent report by Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies, the unexpected comeback of typhus has caught many off guard.
In the heart of San Antonio, Dana Clark, a 76-year-old pianist, experienced the harsh reality of typhus firsthand. While playing her great-grandmother's antique parlor organ, which is over a century old, Clark recalled the moment her life changed. In May, she contracted typhus after clearing weeds in her garden, inadvertently inhaling dust that contained flea excrement.
According to Clark, "I created a lot of dust, and just inhaling that dust can give someone typhus because of flea excrement." Days after her exposure, she began suffering from severe symptoms including high fever, headaches, and body aches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that a rash often accompanies these symptoms. Timely treatment with antibiotics typically leads to positive outcomes; however, a delayed diagnosis can significantly increase the risk of complications and hospitalization, which is precisely what happened to Clark.
Dr. Gregory Anstead, an infectious disease specialist based in San Antonio, has been closely studying the resurgence of flea-borne typhus in Texas. He highlighted a stark increase in cases, stating that the number of typhus infections in the state surged dramatically from around 200 cases in the 1990s to an astonishing twelve-fold increase from 2010 to 2019.
The rise is not limited to Texas; states like California and Hawaii are also witnessing climbing typhus cases. For instance, in Los Angeles County, typhus cases skyrocketed from just 31 in 2010 to 171 by 2022. The CDC, which does not actively track typhus cases due to its previous rarity, notes that historically, typhus was a widespread affliction. In the 1940s, San Antonio was so heavily affected that it became the subject of an extensive public health campaign.
During the mid-20th century, health authorities in San Antonio undertook a massive anti-typhus initiative. The U.S. Public Health Service deployed several tons of DDT throughout the city, targeting germ carriers effectively. This citywide blitz successfully reduced the number of typhus cases and initiated a broader campaign against typhus fleas and rats across the southern United States.
Dr. Anstead explained, "The combination of insecticide treatment with DDT and also spreading these new rodenticides definitely interrupted the transmission cycle of typhus." However, with the return of typhus, it appears that history may be repeating itself.
One of the critical factors contributing to the resurgence of typhus is climate change, which is creating more favorable conditions for both fleas and the bacteria that cause typhus. Warmer temperatures are allowing flea populations to thrive, while rat populations are also increasing due to these changing climatic conditions. A recent study published in Science Advances indicates that rat numbers have surged in urban areas, including Washington, D.C., and New York, further fueling the transmission of typhus.
After her long ordeal with typhus, Dana Clark has returned to her passion for music, but she also carries a valuable lesson with her. She advises others to take precautions, particularly when gardening. "I recommend people wear an N95 mask while pulling weeds to avoid breathing in typhus-infected dust," she cautions.
This resurgence of typhus serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by infectious diseases and the need for public awareness and preventive measures. For those in areas experiencing an uptick in cases, understanding the risks and taking appropriate precautions can help mitigate the impact of this once-forgotten disease.
