Historical outbreaks

There are many historical references to outbreaks of epidemic typhus. It has also been called
gaol (or jail) fever and it caused more prison deaths than execution in the eighteenth century,
even though capital punishment was common. It also killed several prominent judges. During
the First World War there were over three million deaths from epidemic typhus, despite
intensive attempts at delousing. During the Second World War, epidemic typhus was present
across Central and Eastern Europe, with terrible outbreaks occurring in concentration camps:
Anne Frank was one of many who died of typhus. After the war, DDT was used to kill lice
and the incidence of typhus reduced. There have been a few epidemics since then. Typhus is
rarely reported in international travellers: those who stay in budget-type accommodation or
who may have close contact with louse-infested humans, especially during outbreaks or in
refugee settings, may be at increased risk of infection.[7]

Scrub typhus was a notorious risk to US troops in the Pacific during the Second World War
when epidemics of the disease caused many deaths. There was no effective antibiotic
treatment prior to 1944. It was also a problem for US troops stationed in Japan after the
surrender.