Outbreak of Typhus Studied by CDC – Austin Texas
August 12, 2008 by national
Filed under Stories of Interest
Officials from the Centers For Disease Control will begin trapping animals that are flea-infested in Central Austin in hopes of learning more about the recent outbreak of typhus.
CDC officials were set to arrive in Austin Tuesday night and begin trapping as early as Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the numbers continue to rise. There are now 14 confirmed cases and health officials in Travis County are reviewing even more possible cases.
Symptoms for typhus include severe persistent headaches, high fever and a blotchy, bumpy rash.
For the first time in decades and possibly ever (officials say they are unaware of cases before 2007), Austin is experiencing a typhus outbreak. The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department didn’t put the word out until asked about it by reporters — although it said it was about to alert doctors and the public when the media beat them to the punch Wednesday.
