Murine Typhus: A Re-emerging Threat in the United States

At a glance

During this COCA Call, presenters will review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of murine typhus, and discuss its re-emergence in the United States.

Webinar

Thursday, March 27, 2025
2:00-3:00 P.M. ET

Dial-in Information:
Please click this link to join the webinar:

Webinar ID: 161 118 8659
Passcode: 974389
Or One tap mobile: +16692545252,,1611188659#,,,,*974389# US (San Jose)

Or Telephone:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
Webinar ID: 161 118 8659
Passcode: 974389

Overview

During the 1930s and early 1940s, thousands of cases of murine typhus, a potentially life-threatening, flea borne rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia typhi, were reported annually across the southeastern United States. Beginning in the mid-1940s, cases declined drastically, due to wide scale sanitation and pest management strategies. However, during the last 25 years, murine typhus has re-emerged with a vengeance across multiple urban centers in the United States.

Several vertebrate species associated with urban and peri-urban habitats, including rats, opossums, and several species of fleas, contribute to the zoonotic transmission of R. typhi to susceptible human hosts. Murine typhus is treatable with antibiotics, and people who are treated early in the infection recover quickly. Severe disease that can include meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or death may occur in people if treatment is delayed, or if the diagnosis is missed.

During this COCA Call, presenters will review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of murine typhus, and discuss its re-emergence in the United States.

Presenters

Johanna Salzer, DVM, PhD
Veterinary Medical Officer
Lead, Epidemiology Team
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lucas Blanton, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch

Christopher D. Paddock, MD, MPHTM
Medical Officer
Lead, Microbiology and Diagnostic Team
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Call Objectives

COCA Call Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following:

  1. Cite background information on the topic covered during the presentation.
  2. Discuss CDC's role in the topic covered during the presentation.
  3. Describe the topic's implications for clinicians.
  4. Discuss concerns and/or issues related to preparedness for and/or response to urgent public health threats.
  5. Promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations, and other members of an interprofessional team of healthcare providers.

Activity-specific Objectives

  1. Discuss the epidemiology and ecology of murine typhus.
  2. Describe diagnosis and treatment options for murine typhus.
  3. Identify the best laboratory method to confirm acute infection with Rickettsia typhi.

Additional Resources

Continuing Education

Instructions for Obtaining Continuing Education (CE)

To receive continuing education (CE) for WC4520R-032725— Murine Typhus: A Re-emerging Threat in the United States, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WC4520R-032725. Follow the steps below by April 28, 2025. The registration code is COCA032725.

To receive continuing education (CE) for WD4520R-032725— Murine Typhus: A Re-emerging Threat in the United States, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WD4520R-032725. Follow the steps below between April 29, 2025, and April 29, 2027.

  1. Register for and complete the course.
  2. Pass the post-assessment at 80%.
  3. Complete the evaluation.
  4. Visit Your Learning to access your certificates and transcript.

Accreditation Statements

In support of improving patient care, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Jointly Accredited Provider logo
CDC is a Jointly Accredited Provider of Interprofessional Continuing Education.

CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA CME: Credit Designation Statement – Live The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 1 nursing contact hours.

CPE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated this Knowledge-based event for pharmacists to receive 0.1 CEUs in pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number is JA4008229-0000-25-014-L04-P and enduring is JA4008229-0000-25-015-H04-P.

CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.

CECH: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 1. Continuing Competency credits available are 1. CDC provider number 98614.

AAVSB/RACE: This program has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 1 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education.

For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 1 CPH recertification credits for this program.

DISCLOSURE: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all planners and presenters/moderators must disclose all financial relationships, in any amount, with ineligible companies over the previous 24 months as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or products under investigational use.

CDC, our planners, and presenters/moderators wish to disclose they have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contentwill not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.

CDC did not accept financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies for this continuing education activity.

Target Audience

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacists
  • Veterinarians
  • Physician Assistants
  • Health Educators
  • Other Clinicians

Additional Information

  • Contact Information: coca@cdc.gov
  • Support/Funding: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Emergency Risk Communication
  • Method of Participation: You may participate in the educational activity by viewing the program information above.
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