08/25/26 Public Health Education Topic: Typhoid Fever
Per CDC:
Key points
Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever are life-threatening illnesses.
Each of the illnesses is caused by a kind of Salmonella bacteria (germs).
Most people in the United States with these illnesses were infected during international travel.
You can find out if you need a typhoid fever vaccine at www.cdc.gov/travel.
Symptoms
Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever have similar symptoms, including fever. The illnesses are life-threatening and people with symptoms should get medical help immediately.
Risk factors
The chances of getting typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever in the United States are very low.
The chances increase for people in the United States who:
Travel to countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America where the diseases are common
Visit rural areas of those countries
Visit family and friends in those countries
Are not vaccinated against typhoid fever
Almost all people in the United States with these diseases report that they have traveled internationally. Most report that they traveled to countries in South Asia, including Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh.
How it spreads
The bacteria spread to and among people in several ways
The bacteria that cause these illnesses are shed (gotten rid of) in poop. People who shed the bacteria include:
People who have symptoms of typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever
People who are no longer sick but still have the bacteria in their body
You can get typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever after swallowing the bacteria. The bacteria can get in your mouth in several ways, including:
Through food, drinks, and water that have been contaminated by sewage
Through food that has been rinsed in contaminated water and then eaten
Through food that has been touched by a person who did not wash their hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper
Read about Prevention:
To learn more visit: About Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid Fever | Typhoid Fever | CDC
