What is the cause of typhus fever?

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The Cause of Typhus Fever

Q. What is the cause of typhus fever?

A. The cause of this grave disease, until recently a profound mystery, has been now clearly shown to be a minute micro-organism which is communi­cated to human beings by the body louse. The fact that the louse is an active carrier of the in­fection was first shown by Plotz. Recent work done in Mexico by Olitsky and others confirm the work of Plotz, and it may now be regarded as definitely proven that typhus fever is caused by the bite of infected body lice. A vaccine has been produced by the use of which a person may be rendered immune to this disease. Of more than eight thousand persons vaccinated, and who were thoroughly exposed to the disease, only six contracted the disease. It has been observed that typhus fever is much less severe and fatal in certain races, particularly Jews and Arabs. It is a curious fact that typhus fever is chiefly con­fined to the colder regions of the earth. This is because the body louse is more actlve in cold latitudes, being rendered lethargic by heat.

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