Los Angeles typhus outbreak reaches 'epidemic levels'

Los Angeles County is warning its residents to look out for fleas that could be carrying typhus after more than 40 cases have been reported in the area in the last several months.

“The Pasadena Public Health Department is reporting epidemic levels of typhus fever this year," the city said in a statement.

Symptoms of typhus include fever and chills, body aches, muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or rash on the chest, back, arms or legs.

Typhus is typically transferred from infected flea feces when human rub their eyes, cuts or scrapes. The disease cannot be transferred between humans.

Twenty cases have been reported in Pasadena, along with 12 in Long Beach and nine in the rest of Los Angeles, according to NBC.

The Los Angeles County health department urged residents to keep pets indoors and use EPA-registered insect repellent to avoid flea bites.

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