Epidemic louse-borne typhus
Louse-borne typhus is a vector-borne disease caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and transmitted through infected faeces of the body louse Pediculus humanus humanus. Louse-borne typhus is responsible for large epidemics in populations with poor sanitary and overcrowded conditions. The disease can be severe with a mortality of up to 60% without antibiotic treatment. But this can be reduced to below 5% with antibiotic and supportive treatment.