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Los Angeles Times
06-08-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Flea-borne typhus infections are on the rise in SoCal: How to protect yourself and your pets
Pet owners, beware: Flea-borne typhus is on the rise in parts of Southern California. The good news is there are several common-sense ways to protect your pet and yourself from getting infected. A flea becomes infected when it bites rats, opossums and stray cats that are carrying the disease. The disease is caused by Rickettsia typhi bacteria, which can be spread to humans when feces from infected fleas is rubbed into cuts or scrapes on the skin or into the eyes. In the U.S., most cases of flea-borne typhus occur in Texas, California and Hawaii, with an average of about 300 cases each year nationwide, according to the California Department of Public Health. The disease occurs year-round in areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties, but cases tend to peak during late summer and fall months. So far this year, 79 cases of flea-borne typhus — confirmed, probable or suspected — have been reported in Los Angeles County, except for the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, according to the County Public Health Department. For all of last year, the county had a total of 187, cases and it estimated 124 cases in 2023. The city of Long Beach reported 20 cases as of July 31, a jump from 12 cases during the same period in 2024. On average the city has reported 20 cases each year, and 'if this trend continues, Long Beach is expected to surpass its 2021 record of 28 cases reported in a single year,' according to the city's Department of Health and Human Services. At least 75% of the people with the disease in Long Beach were hospitalized, and all have recovered. In areas were the disease is prevalent, you are most at risk of getting typhus from infected fleas if you touch, pet or come into contact with rats, opossums and stray cats. Even if the disease isn't widespread in your neighborhood, public health experts say you should still stay away from animals that can carry the infected fleas. People who live outdoors or in housing that is infested with rats or other rodents are also at risk of contracting the disease. State and local public health experts provide the following guidance on how to prevent fleas from clinging onto your pet and keeping them out of your home. To keep infected fleas away from pets, keep them indoors and treat them regularly with flea control medicine. Avoid attracting stray cats or rodents that are carrying infected fleas by keeping your trash cans covered at all times. Don't leave trash or your pet food outside as that can entice animals to your home. Don't befriend or feed strays in your neighborhood that could be carriers of the infected fleas. Prevent infected fleas or small animals from getting into or living on your property by clearing overgrown vegetation and clutter. If there are any openings or crawl spaces in your home, seal them. Symptoms of flea-borne typhus include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and a rash on or around the chest, sides and back. Although rare, swelling can occur in the lining of the brain (meningitis) or in the heart valves (endocarditis), according to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Death from the disease is uncommon, but it has occurred in Los Angeles County. In 2022, there were three deaths due to flea-borne typhus, all victims were adults who had other underlying medical conditions. If you have any symptoms of the disease, reach out to your healthcare provider right away for treatment. Flea-borne typhus can be treated with antibiotics.
Los Angeles Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
‘Now is not the time': Trump cuts to L.A. overdose prevention efforts alarm experts
Nearly a decade into California's fentanyl crisis, public health experts are finding cause for both optimism and worry. Fatal opioid overdoses in the state have finally receded from record highs, with around 6,700 deaths recorded in the first half of 2024 — a roughly 16% drop from 2023's peak. But doctors, researchers and some L.A. County officials warn that many key measures credited with turning the tide are in jeopardy. President Trump has slashed federal funding for addiction treatment programs, with some services in L.A. County on the chopping block. Preliminary L.A. County data show around 1,300 fatal overdoses caused by fentanyl and other opioids through mid-2024, around 300 fewer deaths compared to a similar time in 2023. Several experts said an emphasis on harm reduction, including increased availability of the overdose reversal drug naloxone and fentanyl testing kits, was behind the improvement. But money earmarked to support such efforts is now drying up. An L.A. County Public Health Department spokesperson said the federal cuts included rescinding more than $45 million in harm reduction grants. Some funding for substance abuse prevention was also terminated mid-contract due to the federal budget changes, the spokesperson said. 'Just as we're making progress on overdose numbers, now is not the time to divest,' the Public Health Department's statement said. At the same time, local authorities are re-embracing a more traditional approach to fighting crime, which includes pursuing longer prison sentences against some drug offenders. Californians voted to pass Proposition 36 during the last election cycle, imposing stricter penalties for repeat theft and crimes involving fentanyl. L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman campaigned last year on the drug crisis, pledging to hold 'fentanyl poisoners/murderers fully accountable for their actions of spreading this poison throughout our communities.' 'Every fentanyl dealer will be warned of the severe repercussions to their liberty if they kill a person with their poison,' Hochman's campaign website said. Ricardo Garcia, L.A. County's public defender, said the renewed emphasis on punishment for drug crimes feels like a flashback to when lengthy sentences for crack fueled mass incarceration. 'It's something that we've seen before that rises very quickly and often has a devastating effect on poor communities, Black and brown communities, and quite frankly, taxpayers, as the cost of dealing with this over-policing,' Garcia said. The parallels to the crack era are troubling to many working on the front lines of today's crisis, from dehumanizing rhetoric — describing fentanyl users as 'zombies' — to punitive sentencing policies. Shoshanna Scholar, director of harm reduction for L.A. County, said the key to saving lives is clear: Ramp up naloxone distribution and overdose prevention efforts in high-risk communities. 'Over the last 25 years, there's been a real reckoning with substance use and seeing it as a chronic condition, as opposed to bad behavior that requires punishment in order to change it,' Scholar said. 'We know there's another path and it actually works to reduce the number of dead people.' Since 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has invested over $1 billion in grants for naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips and other anti-overdose initiatives. Naloxone — also known as Narcan — is now available for purchase for all California residents through the CalRx initiative for $24. At this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, End Overdose, a Burbank-based organization, had a booth near the festival's EDM stages offering naloxone training, free doses and a variety of swag. At the stall, two twentysomething festivalgoers, Mimi and Lily — who asked to be identified only by their first names to discuss drug use — said they had been taking every possible precaution for fear they could be sold something laced with fentanyl. 'Honestly, we learn the most from Reddit and from our parents. They are always telling me to be careful about fentanyl,' said Mimi. 'It reminds me a lot of when people promote abstinence when it comes to safe sex, when they really should be talking about condoms and birth control. Because, either way, people are going to do drugs, so you have to make sure you are doing it safely.' Dr. Brian Hurley, the county's medical director who oversees addiction treatment initiatives, said implementing harsher penalties on drug users can increase the risk of overdose, as people are more likely to use alone and in secret. 'It becomes harder to engage people in an open, honest, neutral conversation about if they are ready to stop using, if they are ready to try interim housing or take a shelter bed. All of these things get people off the street in a way that advances what I think most people really want,' Hurley said. He and others noted that even with the tough-on-crime policies of the 1980s and '90s, crack cocaine use has never gone away. And despite local authorities saying for years that arrests and prosecutions alone are not the solution, experts said it's still difficult for those in need of treatment to find help. 'People are pushing more severe penalties and more arrests, but it's just that's not how you stop people from using a drug you don't want them to use,' said Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal, a public health professor at USC. 'Generally speaking, incarceration isn't a place where people get better.' That message, however, runs contrary to the hard-line approach now being pushed by the White House. Trump has cited fentanyl deaths as a reason for tariffs against China, a source of chemical ingredients used in clandestine labs, and suggested drone strikes on Mexican drug cartels. Trump has also declared fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and called for giving drug dealers the death penalty For Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a UC San Francisco professor who researches public health and drug use, it's hard not to see history repeating itself. The professor, who recently published a paper about 'moral panics' surrounding drug use, said elected officials have long been more concerned with optics and approval ratings than addressing the underlying causes of addiction. 'We're afraid of this drug, and we're afraid of people who use the drug,' Ciccarone said. 'When we get fearful, the natural human response is to look for security. Who can make us feel more secure? The police and courts.' The recent trend in overdose deaths at least offers a glimmer of hope, he added, even if no one can agree on the best path forward. 'I recognize that as a human impulse of fear, urgency and panic, that we must do something,' he said. 'I've heard this from the police saying, 'We have to be seen as doing something,' and I say, 'OK, but don't make the problem worse.''
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
St. Lawrence Co. Public Health reminds public to be aware of measles
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. (WWTI) – The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department is advising the public on how to stay health with cases of measles on the rise. As of April 17, the Center for Disease Control said that a total of 800 confirmed measles cases were reported by 25 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. NYSDOH urges all New Yorkers to be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling A total of two deaths are confirmed to be from measles with another under investigation. According to SLCPHD, 96-percent of cases the cases reported to date occurred in individuals who were unvaccinated or did not have a confirmed vaccination status; those confirmed dead were also unvaccinated. Dr. Andrew Williams, President of the St. Lawrence County Board of Health, reminds residents that measles is a serious, potentially deadly disease that is easily prevented by a safe, effective vaccine. Adults who are not currently vaccinated, or parents/guardians of unvaccinated children, should contact their medical provider, local pharmacy, or the Department of Health immediately and arrange for vaccination. Protect yourself, your family, and the community. SLCPHD said the disease can pose health risks for individuals of all ages; however, certain groups are more susceptible to complications, including children under the age of five, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. Complications associated with measles can include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization, and even death. To prevent the disease, consult your healthcare provider about the MMR vaccine, particularly if you plan to travel. St. Lawrence County residents seeking the MMR vaccine have several local pharmacy options. Pharmacies offering MMR vaccinations in St. Lawrence County include Kinney Drugs and Walmart Pharmacy. County residents are advised to contact their preferred pharmacy in advance to confirm vaccine availability and to schedule an appointment. The MMR vaccinations are also available through the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (315) 386-2325. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
