Full Notification

Recently, Vector Control of Los Angeles County confirmed a case of flea-borne typhus in Burbank.

The case is the first reported one for 2014. The Burbank Animal Shelter is working with the Los Angeles County Vector Control to inform our residents with educational pamphlets and additional information on safety precautions.

The Burbank Animal Shelter is providing the following information and safety tips to the community.

Endemic Typhus Fever (aka: Murine typhus or Flea-borne typhus) is a disease caused by a bacteria known as Rickettsiae. Endemic Typhus is not directly spread from person to person.

People become infected when they come into contact with fleas infected with the bacteria. Fleas defecate as they feed and infection occurs when flea feces containing the bacteria are scratched into the bite site or transferred to other openings such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.

In 2013, there was only one confirmed case of Endemic Typhus Fever in Burbank. In 2012, Burbank had two confirmed cases.

The Environmental Health Vector Management Department has advised Animal Shelter officials that the number of confirmed cases in Burbank is not out of the ordinary but people should still be vigilant and follow the recommended steps for prevention.

•Do not feed wildlife or feral cats, as they contribute to the flea population.
•Keep your pets on a monthly flea control program. There are products available that kill fleas on pets on contact.
•Use flea combs to check for flea fecal matter on your pets and bathe them regularly to eliminate flea fecal matter.
•Keep your cats indoor and register them with Animal Control.
•Trim brush, pick up fallen fruit, and seal off crawl spaces to discourage wildlife from establishing residency on your property
•Wear protective equipment such as a mask, goggles, and gloves when cleaning possible wildlife nesting areas.

For additional information on the disease, symptoms and prevention, please review the Endemic Typhus Fever Pamphlet at:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/bullmurinetyph.pdf.

Please direct questions to the Environmental Health Vector Management Department at 626-430-5450.

For questions concerning this press release, please contact Brenda Castaneda, Animal Shelter Superintendant, at 818-238-3340.