'Medieval' Diseases Like Typhus Are Making A Comeback (in Los Angeles)

[Refractive Reflections]

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Typhus is seeing a resurgence among the homeless population of Los Angeles, and it's not just them who are at risk. Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Elizabeth Greenwood filed a claim against the city for $5 million saying she contracted the disease due to a rat infestation at City Hall. Typhus can be spread by rats carrying infected fleas. It can cause extremely high fever, headache and muscle pain. The disease dates back hundreds of years, and occurs largely in areas with poor sanitation.