Disease EXPLOSION Ravages South — Government Scrambles

Woman sitting beside hospital bed at night

A disease once nearly wiped out in America is exploding across Texas, with cases skyrocketing 12-fold as failed government policies create perfect conditions for this dangerous bacterial infection to spread.

Story Highlights

Flea-borne typhus cases surged from 307 in the 1990s to 3,750 in the 2010s—a devastating 12-fold increase
Over 6,700 Texans infected from 2008-2023, with 70% requiring hospitalization and 14 deaths recorded
Disease spreading from South Texas into major cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio
Climate policies and urban mismanagement creating ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying fleas

Government Negligence Fuels Disease Resurgence

Texas health officials report 682 provisional typhus cases through August 2025, with peak transmission season still ahead. This represents a catastrophic reversal of decades of progress achieved through effective pest control measures in the 1940s. The Texas Department of State Health Services now tracks the highest number of flea-borne typhus cases in the nation, exposing how government failures have allowed a once-controlled threat to resurge with devastating consequences for hardworking families.

Environmental Policies Enable Disease Spread

Dr. Gregory Anstead, an infectious disease specialist, identifies climate change policies and unchecked urbanization as primary drivers of this health crisis. Warmer temperatures from environmental mismanagement favor flea survival and accelerate bacterial reproduction within these disease vectors. Urban sprawl has increased dangerous interactions between humans, pets, and wildlife, creating more hosts for infected fleas to spread this potentially deadly disease throughout Texas communities.

Medical System Struggles With Diagnostic Challenges

Emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher Dayton warns that typhus symptoms mimic common flu, leading to dangerous delays in proper treatment. Patients like Dana Clark experienced severe illness before receiving accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Without prompt antibiotic treatment, this bacterial infection can cause life-threatening complications, overwhelming hospital systems already strained by government healthcare policies. The 70% hospitalization rate demonstrates the serious nature of this preventable public health crisis.

Failed Prevention Efforts Threaten Families

Public health agencies now scramble to address what proper government oversight should have prevented. The disease has expanded beyond its traditional South Texas boundaries into major metropolitan areas, threatening millions of residents. Pet owners face increased veterinary costs and health risks due to inadequate flea control programs. This crisis demonstrates how government negligence in basic public health measures endangers American families and undermines the prosperity that effective governance should protect.

Typhus, a disease once nearly eradicated in the U.S., is on the rise in Texas https://t.co/xWxhZzoxVl

— Adrienne Bradley (@music4everrrrrr) September 13, 2025