How is typhus fever transmitted?
Typhus fever is transmitted by body lice, which become contagious by feeding on the blood of infected humans. The lice then defecate will feeding on another person and the feces, which contains the typhus fever bacteria, can get rubbed into small wounds such as those caused by scratching lice-infected areas. It is the feces, not the bite of the louse that transmits the illness to humans. It is also possible to become infected through contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes or by inhaling the dust of dried lice feces. Typhus fever is not spread directly from person-to-person.
