Murine Typhus

About Murine Typhus:

• It is an infectious disease caused by the flea-borne bacteria Rickettsia typhi.
• Transmission:
  • It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas.
  • It is also known as endemic typhus, flea-borne typhus or flea-borne spotted fever.
  • Rodents like rats, mice and mongoose, are known to be reservoirs of the disease.
  • The disease-carrying fleas can also live on other small mammals, including pets such as cats and dogs. Once a flea is infected, it can spread the disease for the rest of its life.
  • Transmission can also happen through exposure of mucous membranes to infected flea faeces.
• It is spread when infected flea faeces come into contact with cuts or scrapes in the skin.
• Murine typhus is not spread from one person to another, or from person to fleas.
• The disease has been reported in coastal tropical and subtropical regions, where rats are prevalent.
• In India, cases of murine typhus have been reported in the Northeast, Madhya Pradesh and Kashmir.
• Symptoms
  • The symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after the exposure and include fever, headaches, body aches, joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and stomach aches.
  • Some people may later develop rashes on the skin, days after the initial symptoms.
• Treatment
  • There is no vaccine currently available against the disease.
  • The antibiotic doxycycline is considered effective in therapy, but early diagnosis is vital for treatment.