Martha Dyess provided an alert about cases of typhus currently being found in the 78753 and 78758 zip code areas.  Someone living in Balcones Woods actually had a case of typhus in May 2011 and forwarded to a list serve the information she received from a public health nurse who contacted her after she left the hospital.   The carriers are ticks and fleas found on possums and raccoons.  Since we have a number of those animals in our area, Martha thought it important to alert us.
The public health nurse stressed that all pets should be treated for fleas and ticks on a regular basis and said that there is a business called Rodent Vector that could help with the removal of possums and raccoons.
Symptoms of typhus include the following:

• Painful headache
• Chills
• Sensitive skin
• Fever
• Rash
• Inability to think clearly

There are 2 strains of typhus.  One is fairly easy to recover from; the other, if not diagnosed quickly, causes severe complications.  If anyone experiences these symptoms, s/he should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Please share this information with your neighbors.