Collin County officials are warning the public after a reported increase in cases of flea-borne typhus in McKinney.

According to a news release from Collin County health care services, typhus can be spread to humans through contact with infected fleas, which become infected after biting infected animals such as dogs, cats, opossums or rats. The disease can be spread to humans through bacteria. According to the release, fleas defecate when feeding, and the bacteria from flea droppings can be rubbed into bite wounds from the flea, causing an infection.