Typhoid cases up in Negros Occidental, Philippines

The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office issued an health advisory last week due to a reported increase in typhoid fever cases.

From January 1 to January 18, officials logged 80 typhoid fever cases, a 100% increase from the same period in 2024 (40).

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi (Typhi) bacteria. The bacteria spread through contaminated food and water and person-to-person contact.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

Symptoms of typhoid fever include high fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, constipation or diarrhea, cough, and loss of appetite. Typhoid fever can be fatal without appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Typhoid risk is higher in populations that lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation, and children are at highest risk.

Typhoid fever is common in places with poor sanitation and a lack of safe drinking water. Access to safe water and adequate sanitation, hygiene among food handlers and typhoid vaccination are all effective in preventing typhoid fever.