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California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed concern about the rise of typhus in his State of the State address this year, calling it a "medieval disease ... in 2019."
Infectious disease specialists say the problem is real. And it's not just typhus. It's also plague — yes, plague — shigellosis and bartonella quintana.
One reason is homelessness, especially in Western states like California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada, where more than half the homeless population is unsheltered, according to Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a board member with the Infectious Disease Society of America.
"It's very difficult for people who have underlying medical conditions — which the homeless suffer from to a degree that's much greater than people who are housed with respect to chronic diseases, mental health, trauma and wounds, you name it — it's very difficult for these folks to access medical care for their chronic conditions," Duchin tells Here & Now's Robin Young.
Typhus is caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans from insects like fleas and lice. While not typically life-threatening, it does cause significant discomfort. There were more than 160 cases diagnosed in the U.S. over the last year.
"You can think of it as a real severe flu-like illness: high fever, muscle aches, headache, stomach pain," Duchin says. "It's a very uncomfortable disease."
Medieval Diseases Are Mounting A Comeback, Specialists Say. What Are The Causes?
Texas and California. Started last summer. Good job!
Infectious disease specialists say the problem is real. And it's not just typhus. It's also plague — yes, plague — shigellosis and bartonella quintana.
One reason is homelessness, especially in Western states like California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada, where more than half the homeless population is unsheltered, according to Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a board member with the Infectious Disease Society of America.
"It's very difficult for people who have underlying medical conditions — which the homeless suffer from to a degree that's much greater than people who are housed with respect to chronic diseases, mental health, trauma and wounds, you name it — it's very difficult for these folks to access medical care for their chronic conditions," Duchin tells Here & Now's Robin Young.
Typhus is caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans from insects like fleas and lice. While not typically life-threatening, it does cause significant discomfort. There were more than 160 cases diagnosed in the U.S. over the last year.
"You can think of it as a real severe flu-like illness: high fever, muscle aches, headache, stomach pain," Duchin says. "It's a very uncomfortable disease."
Medieval Diseases Are Mounting A Comeback, Specialists Say. What Are The Causes?
Texas and California. Started last summer. Good job!
