Rickettsia (typhus and others)

Statutory notification

• Rickettsia is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 209KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health action

Important information

• Infectious agents: A number of Rickettsia species and Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• Transmission: Bites from infected lice/ticks/mites of rodents and small mammals. Human body louse is a vector for louse-borne typhus but does not occur in Australia.
• Incubation period: 3 to 10 days.
• Infectious period: Person to person transmission does not occur. The infected lice/ticks/mites remains infective for life.
• Case exclusion: Not applicable for types of rickettsial infections that occur in Australia.
• Contact exclusion: Not applicable for types of rickettsial infections that occur in Australia.
• Treatment: Antimicrobial treatment as recommended by the doctor.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow up: Is conducted by Public Health Units and the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• Infectious disease data