Murine typhus is a flea-borne bacterial infection caused by *Rickettsia typhi*, leading to symptoms like fever, headaches, and body aches. Early treatment with antibiotics like doxycycline is ...
The main way that humans contract it is through flea bites. Rats, cats, and opossums are among the animals that fleas carrying the bacteria frequently feed on, serving as reservoirs for the illness.
It’s still possible to chomp through them, according to Desai, though it’s certainly easier for animals other than humans. “We see it more often in animal bites,” he says, citing ...