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reports on the intersection of public health and homelessnessTrash from illegal dumping along the 11100 block of S Central Ave in Watts on Thursday, May 4, 2023.Gary Coronado / Los Angeles TimesThis story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist.
If you find value in independent local reporting,Noting the 220 cases of flea-borne typhus reported in Los Angeles County last year, Supervisor Holly Mitchell is expected to introduce a motion at next week’s board meeting aimed at preventing the spread of the bacterial disease., dated April 14, directs several county departments to coordinate efforts to clean up illegal trash dumping, trim overgrown vegetation and control free-roaming animals that can carry infected fleas. The motion directs the Department of Homeless Services and Housing to prioritize sanitation needs at homeless encampments in outbreak-affected areas. It requires a written report back to the Board of Supervisors within 90 days.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.Mitchell’s motion focuses on Willowbrook, an unincorporated community in her district that has had four local typhus outbreaks since 2017, including one last year. The L.A. County Department of Public Health investigated two other local outbreaks in 2025, in central L.A. and Santa Monica. Typhus infections in L.A. County rose from 187 cases in 2024 to a record 220 in 2025. Last year, 90% of those infected required hospitalization. This year, there have been 17 reported cases of typhus in L.A. County and no local outbreaks, according to the Department of Public Health.Flea-borne typhus is not spread person-to-person. The Public Health Department says the disease is transmitted to humans primarily through infected fleas found on rats, stray cats and possums. Symptoms include fever, headache and rash. Health officials say it can present as a mild illness or a severe disease requiring hospitalization.Fatalities from flea-borne typhus are uncommon, but there were three associated deaths in L.A. County back in 2022., Dr. Muntu Davis urged residents to use flea control on pets, avoid stray animals and secure trash to keep wildlife off their property. You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead . Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community. Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
LA County Board Of Supervisors Flea-Borne Typhus Typhus Willowbrook
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