tifus

typhus

noun TEE-foos Rare

Origin: Greek typhos (fever, stupor)

Usage Note

Tifus refers to a group of infectious diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria, transmitted by lice or fleas. It should not be confused with tifoidea (typhoid fever), which is a distinct disease caused by Salmonella typhi. The word is invariable in the plural (los tifus). Historically, tifus exantemático (epidemic typhus) devastated armies and populations in war conditions.

Examples

"El tifus se propagó entre los soldados."

Natural Translation

Typhus spread among the soldiers.

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