Number of typhus cases growing in Galveston County

Murine typhus, a bacterial infection once thought to be eradicated in Galveston County, is making a comeback. Physicians In the county have already reported as many cases of the disease this year than in all of 2017. The disease is likely spread by fleas on rats and opossums around the county. “The cases we found out about are the tip of the iceberg,” said UTMB’s Lucas Blanton. “If we are diagnosing people, there are probably a lot more people that have been ill.” [Please see the attached file for the full text of the story.] After being distributed by the Associated Press this story has been widely reported and found at The Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media, Click2Houston, Longview News-Journal, U.S. News & World Report, San Antonio Express-News, KAUZ Wichita Falls, KCBD Lubbock, KTRE Lufkin, KRGV Rio Grande Valley, The Brownsville Herald, Telemundo Amarillo and many other stations statewide.