Status of Typhus in Lebanon

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Abstract
Summary Blood samples collected from human and rat population of Lebanon were tested for the presence of residual antibodies to typhus rickettsiae. Of 454 human serum samples tested, 76 (16.74%) were positive in CF and 37 (8.15%) in HA tests. Of 51 rat serum samples tested 18 (35.3%) were positive in CF tests. In the human population there was a stepwise increase of the rates of infections towards older age groups. This suggested a slow but continuous level of exposure to the disease. The findings of other investigators, indicating the superiority of CF over the HA test for detection of residual antibodies to typhus, was confirmed. The epidemiology of typhus fever in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries was briefly disscussed.