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Definition of typhus
: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: such as
a : a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash
b : murine typhus
c : scrub typhus
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Time Traveler for typhus
The first known use of typhus was in 1785
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