Typhus Prevention Methods

Typhus is an illness caused by various types of rickettsial or orentia bacteria. The disease can be transmitted through the bite or feces of infected insects and other parasites. The bacteria can enter an individual's bloodstream through feces entering tiny cuts or bites. Insects may leave feces on the skin while they're biting or feeding off humans. These bites are usually itchy, and scratching the area leaves openings for the bacteria or feces to enter the patient's bloodstream.

Some infections can occur from a bite even without scratching the bite or surrounding area. Typhus is more of an issue in developing countries or regions with problems like poor sanitation. The main types of typhus include epidemic, scrub, and murine. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, vomiting, stupor, and a spotted rash. A blood test can check for typhus bacteria. Individuals should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect a typhus infection, especially if they have traveled abroad.

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Basic Healthy Hygiene Practices

It's best to avoid travel to countries or regions at high risk for typhus exposure or any place where exposure to the disease has actually occurred. In the event of travel to such places, cleanliness and proper personal hygiene are important ways of decreasing the risk of infection. Basic healthy hygiene practices are one of the best ways to prevent infestations of insects that carry the typhus bacteria. Frequent hand-washing is an effective way of controlling the infection and preventing it from spreading to others. Individuals should use soapy water at the hottest, bearable temperature to scrub hands for at least thirty seconds. They should also always wash their hands before preparing food, eating, and after using the bathroom. Keeping hand sanitizer handy for instances where there is no access or limited access to soap and water is also beneficial. Frequent bathing and changing clothes is also important to get rid of or prevent body louse infestations. Other hygiene practices for avoiding infection include using bottled water, boiling clothes for at least an hour, avoiding raw foods, and consuming only steaming, hot foods.

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Avoid Animals Known To Carry Typhus

One of the easiest ways to prevent typhus is to avoid animals known to carry typhus. Carriers of the bacteria include lice, fleas, ticks, mites, rats, opossums, and other small mammals. Some of them become carriers from feeding on the blood of infected people or rodents. Epidemic typhus can be found in the United States and many other countries, and it's spread by infected body lice, flying squirrels, or possibly by ticks. This kind of typhus is rare and usually occurs in very crowded living conditions with poor sanitation. Cat fleas or rat fleas carry murine or endemic typhus. This type is found worldwide, and although it's not common in the United States, cases have been reported in Texas, Hawaii, and Southern California. Scrub typhus, also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is carried by chiggers, which are mites in their larval stage. This form of typhus can be found in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Japan, China, India, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands.

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Use Insect Repellent

Eliminating the carriers and source of the bacteria that cause typhus is one of the main methods of prevention. Individuals should perform regular checks for insects that carry typhus and wear protective clothing whenever they are in an area with a risk for typhus or that had recent outbreaks. Using insect repellent for body louse control and applying it to clothing is also quite helpful.

The application procedure for treating one or more individuals is called the dusting technique. Widespread infestation usually requires repeated applications of insecticide to everyone in the area. This treatment is not recommended for individuals with skin conditions or open wounds. Patients with a louse infestation who were exposed to typhus fever will need to be observed for at least fifteen days after application of an insecticide. One thorough treatment of insecticide should be enough, but retreatments may be necessary for persistent infestations. The process is easy, inexpensive and is good for at least six weeks regardless of frequent laundering.

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Spray Flea-Control Products

Individuals should also consider spraying flea-control products to decrease their risk of typhus by avoiding direct contact with fleas. There are approximately three hundred cases of flea-borne typhus every year in the United States. Flea-borne typhus is always present in certain parts of California like Orange County and Los Angeles. Infected fleas can spread the typhus bacteria to humans and their pet cats and dogs. The fleas become infected from feeding on rats, opossums, or other mammals carrying the bacteria. Cat fleas and rat fleas are most frequently linked to disease transmission. Pet owners should spray flea-control products on their cats and dogs regularly, and keep them indoors as much as possible. Wild animals should be kept away from the home whenever possible.

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Clean Up Food Waste Outside

Individuals can help keep away certain typhus-carrying insects and the animals they feed on by employing certain sanitary measures, including cleaning up food waste outside to discourage rodents, ticks, and fleas from taking up residence nearby. It's an inexpensive and effective way for individuals to decrease their risk of typhus infection. Any source of food kept outdoors should be sealed in rat-proof containers. This includes any type of pet food like birdseed or products for the lawn, such as grass seed. Individuals should dispose of garbage promptly and keep it in containers with tight-fitting lids at all times. They will also want to remove any other rubbish or clutter that may become a second home for rats. Pet owners shouldn’t leave pet food outside for long periods. Instead, they should give their pet time to eat and remove any remains and the dish once they have finished.