Typhus fever comprises bacterial infections caused by specific rickettsial agents, including Rickettsia prowazekii, Orientia tsutsugamushi, and Rickettsia typhi [1]. These organisms are small, obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacteria maintained in nature through cycles involving mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors [3]. Their morphological structures feature a limiting membrane surrounding protoplasmic material embedded with dense granules [2].
Disease overview
BacterialEndemic typhus fever
地方性斑疹伤寒
Evidence-backed informationEN 5/7 applicable sections · ZH 5/7 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
Typhus refers to a group of infectious diseases including epidemic, scrub, and murine typhus, characterized by fever, headache, and rash appearing one to two weeks after exposure [1]. While epidemic typhus is now rare due to improved sanitation, murine typhus persists in tropical and subtropical regions with recent urban outbreaks noted in the United States [1]. The causative rickettsiae share morphological similarities with other bacteria, featuring a limiting membrane surrounding protoplasmic material [2].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile6
Common symptoms such as fever, headache, and a rash typically begin one to two weeks after exposure [1]. These signs and symptoms refer to epidemic typhus, as it is the most severe of the typhus group [1].
Murine typhus occurs in tropical and subtropical areas globally, while epidemic typhus historically occurred in crowded settings with poor sanitation but is now rare [1]. Recent surveillance data indicate a rising trend in murine typhus cases over the past decade, with a peak of 171 cases reported in 2022 and notable outbreaks in Los Angeles County affecting homeless populations [1]. In some European regions like Spain, murine typhus remains one of the most prevalent rickettsioses alongside Mediterranean spotted fever [3].
Transmission occurs via arthropod vectors, specifically body lice for epidemic typhus, chiggers for scrub typhus, and fleas for murine typhus [1]. Humans are typically incidental hosts infected through arthropod bites within natural cycles involving mammals and vectors [3]. Murine typhus specifically is caused by flea bites [1].
Vaccines have been developed, but none are commercially available [1]. Prevention is achieved by reducing exposure to the organisms that spread the disease [1].
- 1Wikipedia contributors. Typhus - Wikipedia [Internet]. Wikipedia. cited 12 Aug 2026.Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhus
- 2Plotz H et al. MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF RICKETTSIAE. J Exp Med. 1943 Apr 1. PMID: 19871289. doi: 10.1084/jem.77.4.355.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19871289/
- 3Bernabeu-Wittel M et al. [Rickettsioses]. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2005 Mar. PMID: 15757589. doi: 10.1157/13072167.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15757589/
- A75.2
- 1C30
Coverage
Reporting countries and regions
Trends by reporting country
Monthly patterns over time
Data access
Page dataset index with source links and update metadata.
Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes4
Hong Kong, China CHP Notifiable Diseases
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China CHP annual notifiable infectious disease CSVs normalized to national monthly totals
Korea KDCA EID
South Korea
Korea KDCA notifiable infectious disease OpenAPI or portal/KOSIS downloads aggregated to national monthly notification counts.
Singapore CDA Weekly Infectious Diseases Bulletin
Singapore
Singapore national weekly case notifications, combining the official data.gov.sg 2012–2022 CSV history with CDA annual workbooks from 2023 onward; 2023 weekly PDFs are retained as a source fallback.
Taiwan, China CDC NIDSS
Taiwan, China
Taiwan, China monthly notifiable infectious disease open-data CSV feed.