Typhus which was common in the United States in the 1940s is making a comeback in Texas.
The Houston Chronicle reports that “between 2003 and 2013, typhus increased tenfold in Texas and spread from nine counties to 41, according to Baylor College of Medicine researchers. The numbers have increased since then. Harris County, which reported no cases before 2007, had 32 cases in 2016, double the previous years’ numbers.”
Typhus, along with Chagas, Dengue Fever, Zika, and Chikungunya are tropical diseases that are becoming more prevalent in south and southeast Texas.
According to the Chronicle, “Unlike many tropical diseases, which predominate in poor areas, the new cases of typhus were just as likely to be reported in more affluent areas, such as Bellaire and West University.”
See the full story on HoustonChronicle.com…
Photo: Houston Chronicle; Jerry Baker, Freelance
