[beta_plus]

I listen to Adam Carolla and Dr Drew on a regular basis. For the past few months, they have been discussing how the LA homeless problem is now causing disease issues such as Typhus and possibly the Plague in the near future.

How bad is it actually in downtown LA? I'm thinking of visiting SoCal in the spring and would like to take the train between San Diego and Santa Barbara, stopping off in LA just to see a few sites, but I'm a bit reluctant now.

Is this an over reaction or are things really getting that bad?

[Drazen]

Just stay away from Skid Row and you should be fine. I'd probably stay away from Downtown LA in general though just because there are so many better parts of LA to hang in. You'll have to be in Union Station if you take the train, which is closer to Chinatown.

[kaotic]

It's not that bad, but enough to be concerned.

Typhus is active and a city employee got Typhus and went to the media about it - she got demoted and transferred for blowing the whistle on it, fucked up.

Avoid Skid Row like Drazen said and mostly downtown - any place you see tents on sidewalks avoid the area.

[speculator]

Utter and complete BS. I have been studying/working in DTLA for the past 5 years and spend on average 50-60 hours there every week. I use the rail-subway system to get to my corporate job and get exposed to all kinds of outcasts of society. Hundreds of thousands of people do the same thing every single day.

If you use common sense and wash your hands after using public transportation, the chances of catching a disease are minimal. DTLA is booming like no other downtown in North America. This place is reasonably safe and is getting better by each passing day. It has the highest concentration of bars/restaurants/clubs in LA County, and new venues pop up every week.

[RDF]

I wouldn't quite go so far as to say Downtown LA is "booming" (relative to where it used to be 10 years ago, absolutely, but it still isn't always the best place to hang out), but otherwise I agree, this is completely overblown. The chance of catching something is minimal. Definitely not something to adjust your trip over.

[kaotic]

Yeah the media is sensationalizing it and using the homeless situation and typhus as an excuse to try get movement and doing something about the homeless - it's a politic ploy - not to say a disease outbreak hasn't broken out through homeless encampments before.

[The Beast1]

Overblown, I spend a lot of time downtown walking around for lunch.

The city worker who got typhus was probably working with the homeless. Don't work with the homeless and especially don't give them fucking money and you'll be fine.

[Akwesi]

Typhus spreads through lice or fleas biting you and then taking a shit in the small wound. So avoid getting lice or fleas, or get rid of them immediately. Don't think you need to change your plans.