typhus

American  

[tahy-fuhs] / ˈtaɪ fəs /

noun

Pathology.

1. an acute, infectious disease caused by several species of Rickettsia, transmitted by lice and fleas, and characterized by acute prostration, headache, and a peculiar eruption of reddish spots on the body.

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typhus British  

/ ˈtaɪfəs /

noun

1. Also called: typhus fever. any one of a group of acute infectious rickettsial diseases characterized by high fever, skin rash, and severe headache

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typhus Scientific  

/ tī′fəs /

1. Any of several forms of an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia transmitted by fleas, mites, or especially lice, and characterized by severe headache, high fever, and skin rash. Louse-born bacteria that cause typhus are especially virulent and can cause epidemics of the disease, which may be fatal in people with weakened immune systems.

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typhus Cultural  

1. A group of acute and contagious diseases, often fatal, marked by severe headaches and high fever. Typhus is transmitted to humans by fleas, lice, or mites that are infected with the microorganism that causes the disease.

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Other Word Forms

• typhous
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of typhus

1635–45; < New Latin < Greek tŷphos vapor

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

typhus

At the war’s end, Mignon escaped to a displaced-persons camp in Bavaria, Germany, where she nearly died of an infected gallbladder and typhus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Los Angeles County health officials are warning residents about a flea-borne typhus outbreak in the Mid-Wilshire area.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

And there’s flea-borne typhus, which is also on the rise in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department identified 220 cases of flea-borne typhus last year, a big increase over the 187 cases in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

Diphtheria, polio, typhus lurked everywhere, and we had no weapons against them, although living in the country instead of Austin gave us some protection.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

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