Flea-borne typhus outbreak puts three Aucklanders in hospital – Stuff

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Murine typhus is spread by fleas living on vermin such as rats and mice.

Flea-borne typhus has been found in northwest Auckland after three locals were hospitalised with the rare disease.

This type of typhus also known as murine typhus is usually carried by vermin, such as rats and mice, and spreads to humans and other animals via infected fleas living in the animals fur.

Dairy Flat Veterinary Clinic was notified of the outbreak on June 3, after a family in the Kaukapakapa area told clinic staff the stray kittens they had treated were carrying the disease.

Dr Angela Matthews, a vet at the clinic, said the cases were connected to two adults in the family and their employee who had handled the kittens while trying to rehome them.

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The family told the clinic because they were very worried about the disease being in the area and wanted locals to be aware of it, Matthews said.

The three have been released from hospital and are recovering at home.

Animals do not become sick if they have murine typhus, but humans do.

When the family first brought the stray litter into the vet clinic, they were told to check the kittens did not have toxoplasmosis, Matthews said.

Toxoplasmosis is an unrelated infection caused by parasites found in cat faeces and, in humans, has similar symptoms to murine typhus.

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The best way to prevent murine typhus is to keep your pets flea and worm treatments up to date.

The best way to avoid being infected by murine typhus or other diseases carried by fleas, is to make sure all of your animals are up to date with their flea and worm treatments.

Preventative medicine should be the first step, not just for your cats but rabbits and dogs too, Matthews said.

This treatment is not only for keeping your pets well, but their owners and the community who might come into contact with them.

Matthews said it was important to set up vermin controls, especially if you have old sheds or barns, where rats or mice are likely to live.

This is not the first time an outbreak of murine typhus has occurred in the Kaukapakapa and Helensville area, with a few cases popping up in 2010.

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Helensville locals were infected by murine typhus due to handling stray kittens that had not been treated for fleas.

There can be years between the cases, so people sometimes forget that infection is a possibility, Matthews said.

An Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) spokesperson confirmed it was notified of a probable case of murine typhus in early June, and that others from the same household were "suspected of having the illness.

The symptoms of murine typhus can include fever, headache, malaise, swollen lymph nodes, sore muscles and a rash, the spokesperson said.

ARPHS advised locals to keep tight lids on rubbish and compost bins, wear gloves if handling sick animals, and use insect repellant if you are spending time outside.

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Dr Angela Matthews said it is important for locals to have vermin controls in place.

Matthews said anyone who started to develop symptoms should let their doctor know if they had recently handled a stray animal, or been in contact with vermin.

People are infected with the disease can be very sick for a number of weeks, she said. The best course of action is swift diagnosis followed by prompt treatment.

Matthews said the threat of murine typhus did not mean locals could not handle strays or help rehome them, but they should be aware of the disease.

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The first thing to do is to flea [the animals], but do not bring them into your home, Matthews said.

Be cautious if you find them in a shed or a barn where there is likely to be vermin living in. Get them into an area that is easy to clean.

ARPHS said cases in murine typhus in Auckland are rare, with the most recent case before this outbreak recorded in 2017.

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Flea-borne typhus outbreak puts three Aucklanders in hospital - Stuff