Cat flea fiasco: Innocent bite leads to life-threatening infection and amputation to Texan man

A Texan man, after suffering what seemed similar to flu symptoms following a cat flea bite, was diagnosed with a severe infection leading to organ failure. Doctors battled arduously to save his life by amputating parts of his legs and arms.

This unfortunate incident happened to a 35 year old resident of Houston, Texas, USA, last month. Michael Kohlhaof was visiting his mother in San Antonio when he began feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms and gastrointestinal issues. His condition worsened and led the Texan man to seek medical assistance in the hospital on June 19.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Kohlhaof was immediately moved to the emergency room. He needed assisted breathing and his organs started to fail. After further testing, doctors diagnosed him with a severe form of typhus, resulting from a bacterial infection spread by cat fleas.

Within a…