Grim ‘Victorian Disease’ Flea-Borne Typhus Makes Terrifying Comeback in U.S. - The Daily Beast

PS/Grim ‘Victorian Disease’ Makes an Alarming ComebackIt can hospitalize up to 90 percent of those who catch it. CommentsPhoto Illustration by The Daily Beast/Public Domain A fast-spreading “Victorian disease” rarely associated with the modern era is making a comeback. Flea-borne typhus, a highly contagious bacterial illness, is raising alarm across Los Angeles County as officials report a sharp rise in cases this year. Typhus is sometimes known as “famine fever,” “jail fever,” or “war fever” because it often proliferates during times of crisis. In 2025 alone, at least 220 infections were confirmed in L.A., already surpassing the previous year’s total of 187, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.