Did rats bring the typhus bacteria to Athens in 430 BC?

The outbreak of typhus in Athens during the Peloponnesian War in 430 BC is often attributed to unsanitary conditions and overcrowding, exacerbated by the influx of refugees. While rats are known carriers of the bacteria responsible for typhus, historical accounts suggest that the disease could have also been spread by lice infesting humans. Therefore, while rats may have played a role in some outbreaks of disease, it is unlikely they were the primary vector for typhus in ancient Athens.