How do people get typhus?

People usually get typhus from the bites of infected fleas, lice, or mites. These parasites can carry Rickettsia prowazekii or Rickettsia typhi, which are the bacteria that cause typhus fever.

Typhus can also be spread through contact with the feces of infected rodents, cats, or dogs. Less commonly, people can become infected with typhus through contaminated food or water.