Typhoid outbreak in Kiribati
On the central Pacific island country of Kiribati, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services, Public Health Department report four new suspected typhoid cases and one new confirmed positive case during the past two weeks.
Since June 5, a total of 112 cases (23 laboratory confirmed and 89 suspected cases) have been diagnosed, with 21 requiring hospitalization.
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.
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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.
As of 2019 estimates, there are 9 million cases of typhoid fever annually, resulting in about 110,000 deaths per year.
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.
Typhoid conjugate vaccine, consisting of the purified Vi antigen linked to a carrier protein, is given as a single injectable dose in children from 6 months of age and in adults up to 45 years or 65 years (depending on the vaccine).