SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Officials say the outbreak, which struck earlier this year, could have been caused by Rickettsia felis, a type that would be rare to South Texas, rather than the more common Murine typhus, which is spread by fleas on rodents, opossums and cats, the Austin American-Statesman reported Friday.

Humans contract Rickettsia felis from a flea associated with cats but can also be found on other animals. It was unknown in South Texas until about 10 years ago and the Centers for Disease Control says it has joined the investigation because of the possibility.

"Right now, we're suspecting we're dealing with murine typhus but we want to confirm and make sure", Jill Campbell, a disease surveillance program supervisor for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, told the newspaper.

Extremely dry weather could have been a factor, state officials said, forcing rodents and opossums closer to homes in their search for water.

 BREAKING STORIES

Official: Russia has no melamine victims

N. Korea: Kim Jong Il makes troop visit

Plastic surgery makes advances in wartime

New law puts mental, physical ills on par

Cervical cancer shot gains acceptance

Study: Ginkgo can prevent stroke damage

WHO probes deadly mystery illness

Claim: Magic Johnson 'faked' AIDS

Exercise intervention helps with arthritis

WHO: Mental health stigma unfair

Bird flu survival tied to hands-on therapy

TV star to wed after getting cancer news

NSAIDs linked to lower breast cancer risk

Kids' asthma diagnosis can be a challenge

Herb may help curb bad breath

New procedure to correct sagging breasts

Why pizza may cause women pain, urination

Cocoa powder high in anti-oxidants

Genetic code of malaria parasite sequenced

Cuban exiles irked by aid cutoff rule