Health officials are investigating an outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Pico-Union neighborhood as cases continue to rise across Los Angeles County, urging residents to protect themselves and their pets from infected fleas. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said five symptomatic cases linked to the outbreak have been identified this year. In Los Angeles County, infected fleas are commonly found on rats, free-roaming cats and opossums. In 2025, Los Angeles County Public Health recorded 220 cases of flea-borne typhus, the highest number ever reported in the county. Health officials also expressed concern about the severity of recent infections, noting that nearly nine out of 10 people diagnosed with flea-borne typhus in 2025 required hospitalization.