What you need to know: LAist

According to the LAPD, at least one agent was tested positive for Salmonella Typhi – the bacteria causing typhoid fever. The officer, who does not have typhoid fever, is a detective assigned to the central division of Skid Row, the department said.

Los Angeles police did not comment on the detective's state, but Los Angeles Police Protection League Vice President Robert Harris said his treatment did not include an overnight stay. in the hospital.

Two other detectives in the same division have symptoms similar to those of the same bacteria, but they have not been diagnosed yet, according to a spokeswoman for the LAPD.

This typhoid fever alert comes less than a month after a lieutenant and three West Valley Division officers contracted a treatment-resistant staphylococcus bacteria and joined a bedbug epidemic that took place. temporarily closed the prison of the Pacific Division.

"Enough, that's enough," Harris said. "We must handle this as an emergency."

We know you have questions about all of this. And we have answers:

Is this case related to the 17 cases of typhus discovered in downtown Los Angeles last fall and at the town hall in February?

Typhoid fever is not the same thing as typhus. They are caused by different bacteria and are transmitted differently, and typhoid fever is quite rare in the United States.

Salmonella Typhi, the bacteria that causes typhoid fever, is spread through contact with contaminated food or water – or through close contact with an infected person or carrier. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects about 22 million people each year worldwide, but only about 350 people in the United States. Most get it during their travels in the Indian subcontinent.

According to the county's Department of Public Health, 14 cases of typhoid fever have been reported in Los Angeles County in 2018 and five cases have been reported so far this year.

What are the symptoms of typhoid fever?

Symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. You should see a doctor immediately. It's treatable with antibiotics, according to the CDC. Getting treatment is essential; 30% of untreated people die from complications. Here is a more detailed overview.

Do we have any idea of ​​how the detective was infected?

The Los Angeles Police Department and the County Public Health Department have not yet determined how the detective had recovered Salmonella Typhi. However, it appeared that Cal / OSHA, the public body responsible for workplace safety, had investigated the building of the Central Division last November and found that the officials had not sufficiently treated infestations of rats, fleas, cockroaches and other tiny creatures. Investigators also discovered that LAPD had not trained its staff to prevent typhus. These and a few other violations, including not keeping the parking structure clean, resulted in the LAPD being fined $ 5,425.

How can I avoid getting typhoid fever?

The public health service recommends that you be vaccinated against typhoid fever if you plan to leave the country, although its effectiveness diminishes over time. According to the World Health Organization, the effectiveness is about 70% a year and a half after vaccination and about 50% three years after vaccination.

Other tips (especially common sense):

• Avoid getting sick by eating foods and drinks by following healthy eating habits, such as cooking well and drinking only bottled or canned drinks.
• Wash your hands before eating or drinking.
• Avoid direct contact with garbage or sewage.

So, what is lean on typhus?

Another bacterium, Rickettsia typhi, causes typhus. The specific type we encounter in L.A. calls it murine typhus and it is endemic in the region, which means that it is always present. The 109 cases reported last year represent an unusually high number, but L.A. County has averaged 56 cases per year since 2010, according to the County Public Health Department.

The way you contract murine typhus is pretty crude: an infected flea rubs the excrement into cuts or scratches on the skin. Rats harbor fleas in most parts of the world, but in California, infected fleas are also present on your cat.

What are the symptoms of murine typhus?

Symptoms may include fever, chills, body aches, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Doxycycline, an antibiotic, can kill it, according to the CDC. Most people cure typhus without treatment, but if they are not treated, they can damage vital organs, including the heart, liver and brain. Here is a more complete description.

How did the LAPD respond?

Los Angeles police have asked city service teams to disinfect work areas that may have been infected by the central division. This was completed on Wednesday night, according to LAPD spokesperson Josh Rubenstein.

"The health and well-being of all LAPD police employees is essential and we will work diligently to create a safe work environment, "the ministry said in a statement. Unfortunately, our police officers often patrol hostile environments and may be exposed to various dangerous elements. "

Is the growing homeless population playing a role in the spread of these bacteria?

"Certainly, when you have hygiene problems – and this is a common problem among homeless people – you run an increased risk of several things," said Jonathan Fielding, former director of the County Public Health Department and now a professor at the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA.

But there are a myriad of possible sources, he said, and officials should not "rush to draw conclusions … we should not assume that homeless people were at the origin" .

Foods that may carry the typhoid bacteria include raw or runny eggs, undercooked fish or meat, and unwashed or sometimes unpeeled fruits and vegetables, Fielding said.

And contrary to what Harris said from the police union, Fielding does not characterize the various cases of bacterial infections in the LAPD as urgent.

What does the police union say about infections?

Union Vice President, Harris, said the 21 LAPD patrol stations need to be cleaned more often and at a higher level instead of receiving a "stereotypical office cleaning". Officers are interacting more and more with people in the streets who do not have regular access to toilets and showers and sometimes live in "deplorable conditions" conducive to the spread of the disease, he said. .

Last year, the Police Protective League bought about 500 pairs of thicker gloves for officers dealing with homeless people, Harris said, adding that the union was not trying to blame but wanted to be associated with LAPD.

Department spokesman Rubenstein said that while discussions are ongoing on how to keep facilities free of dangerous diseases, the LAPD does not provide for stricter cleaning regimes or new equipment for officers. "At this point, I do not know if nothing can be done," he said.