What Is Typhus?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
9. Is There Any Genetic Link to This Condition?
While typhus typically affects people in the same household and community, it is not a genetic condition but an environmental one. Families can share the infection because of their proximity to affected spaces and species. Communities that share common areas with arthropod infestations can share the infection, but that does not mean there is a genetic link.
The risks and likelihood of contracting typhus depend on invertebrates in the living space. If fleas, ticks, mites or lice have the rickettsial bacteria, you may contract it when bitten or scratching bites and become infected. The severity of your symptoms, however, will depend on how quickly you respond to and treat the infection.
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