A 12th Maui resident has been infected with rodent-borne typhus, bringing this year's state total to 14. 14th typhus case
surfaces in stateBy Keiko Kiele Akana-Gooch
kakana-gooch@starbulletin.comState health officials confirmed yesterday that a Kula man, in his 20s, contracted murine typhus in late July.
This year's total has already surpassed the highest number of annual typhus cases recorded in Hawaii the past 10 years, which was 10 in 1998.
Janice Okubo, Health Department public information officer, said the latest victim has been treated and has recovered from the infection.
He was not hospitalized and did not develop serious complications.
The man is the second Kula resident to contract the infection this year.
Okubo said both Kula men work in Kihei, where seven of the 12 infected Maui residents live.
"There's strong evidence that (the Kula men) may have gotten infected in Kihei," Okubo said.
One resident each in Wailuku, Kahului and Lahaina also contracted the disease.
The state's two other cases are on Oahu and Kauai.
More cases are expected because of the increasing mouse population and an increased awareness among doctors and the public, Okubo said.
"It's likely that we'd find more cases because we're looking," she said.
Murine typhus is a normally nonfatal bacterial infection spread by fleas that bite infected rodents and then bite humans.
Symptoms are flulike and include headache, body ache, fever, nausea, vomiting and rash.
Health officials on Maui have put out bait traps in Kihei and plan to spread poisoned oats on lawns to cut down on the number of mice.
The Health Department suggests keeping food securely enclosed, sealing holes in houses and keeping grass short to help curb the mouse problem.
Department of Health
