endemic typhus
1
8.8
- noun
- /ˌɛndɛmɪk ˈtaɪfəs/
- Specialized
- Effective control of fleas helped prevent the spread of endemic typhus in the region.
Examples
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Many people in rural areas suffer from endemic typhus.
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Her research focuses on understanding how endemic typhus spreads in urban environments.
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During the outbreak, several patients were diagnosed with endemic typhus after developing fever and rash.
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The outbreak of endemic typhus was alarming.
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The doctor explained that endemic typhus is typically transmitted by fleas found in certain rural areas.
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In regions affected by endemic typhus, health officials implement measures to control flea populations.
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Many people recovered from endemic typhus after receiving timely treatment with appropriate antibiotics.
Synonyms
12
8.6
A serious disease spread by lice or fleas that causes high fever, headache, and a skin rash
1
7.3
A serious infection spread by lice or fleas that causes high fever, headache, and a skin rash
1
8.3
A serious disease that causes fever and a rash when fleas spread bacteria to people
1
9.9
An illness with fever and rash spread by fleas from rats or mice
An illness spread by infected fleas that causes fever, chills, muscle aches, and a rash
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'endemic typhus' is transparently compositional: 'endemic' (regularly occurring in a specific area) modifies 'typhus' (a disease), so the meaning is simply typhus that is regularly present in a particular area. This follows a standard adjective+noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Endemic typhus comes from older Greek words: endemic means 'in the people of a place', showing a disease that is always found there, and typhus comes from a word meaning 'smoke' or 'confusion', an image of the fever and dazed feeling the illness gives. So, the name describes a feverish disease that regularly happens in a certain area.