typhus

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of a group of acute bacterial diseases caused by Rickettsia and spread by lice, fleas, or mites, typically producing high fever and a rash

   Overcrowding and body lice allowed typhus to spread rapidly through the camp.

From New Latin typhus, from Greek typhos, 'smoke, haze, fever, or stupor,' from typhein, 'to smoke.' The disease was named for the clouded mental state severe fever can produce. Despite the similar names, typhus and typhoid are different infections.

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