Los Angeles faces soaring flea-borne typhus cases amid worsening rat problem
Flea-borne typhus infections in Los Angeles have surged dramatically, overwhelming health officials who lack dedicated funding and tools to control the outbreak.
Los Angeles County reports a dramatic increase in flea-borne typhus, climbing 2,300% since 2009 and reaching a new record of 220 cases in 2025. The disease, transmitted by fleas on rats, has led to hospital treatment for roughly 90% of those infected and three fatalities in 2022, the first deaths in decades. Municipal employees, including a deputy city attorney and a fire department captain, have publicly complained about rat infestations near city facilities.
Public-health officials admit they lack specific funding for typhus response and that recent state laws restricting anticoagulant rodenticides have hampered control efforts. The combination of abundant trash, homelessness, and aging infrastructure has created an environment where rats thrive and spread the bacteria. Experts from pest-control firm Orkin note that the pandemic may have amplified both rat numbers and aggression. City leaders continue to grapple with cleaning streets, expanding garbage services, and addressing the rat surge amid limited pest-control tools.
Why it matters
A rising, hard-to-control disease threatens public health in a major U.S. city.
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