Rare typhus strain eyed in Texas outbreak

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Texas officials say they're investigating whether an uncommon strain of typhus caused an outbreak of the disease that led to the hospitalization of 10 people.

Officials say the outbreak, which struck earlier this year, could have been caused by Rickettsia felis, a type that would be rare to South Texas, rather than the more common Murine typhus, which is spread by fleas on rodents, opossums and cats, the Austin American-Statesman reported Friday.

Humans contract Rickettsia felis from a flea associated with cats but can also be found on other animals. It was unknown in South Texas until about 10 years ago and the Centers for Disease Control says it has joined the investigation because of the possibility.

"Right now, we're suspecting we're dealing with murine typhus but we want to confirm and make sure," Jill Campbell, a disease surveillance program supervisor for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, told the newspaper.

Extremely dry weather could have been a factor, state officials said, forcing rodents and opossums closer to homes in their search for water.