Kerala man contracts murine typhus: What is this rare disease?

A 75-year-old man from Kerala was diagnosed with murine typhus after traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia. This rare bacterial infection is spread by fleas, specifically the oriental rat flea. Symptoms include fever, body aches, and nausea, and can be severe but fatalities are rare with proper antibiotic treatment. Murine typhus is spread through contact with infected fleas, which can be found on rats or cats. Prevention includes avoiding contact with fleas and keeping rodents and wild animals away from homes. There is no vaccine for murine typhus, so taking preventative measures is key.