S. Africa issues warning for typhoid fever

South African health authorities on Friday issued a warning against typhoid fever following the recent increase in the number of cases reported in neighboring Zimbabwe.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said it would like to raise awareness amongst returning travellers and their health care providers for typhoid fever.

The NICD pointed to the increased risk of importation of cases into South Africa but also said an outbreak of typhoid in South Africa is not anticipated.

It is important that persons with symptoms suggestive of typhoid receive appropriate and early diagnosis and treatment, the institute said.

Typhoid is endemic in southern Africa, with seasonal increases in January and February. It is spread from person-to-person by faeco-oral contamination, direct contact, or through ingestion of contaminated food or water contaminated with obligate parasite Salmonella Typhi.

Symptoms of typhoid include fever, headache, chills and sweats, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea. Persons with these symptoms should undertake a test with a blood culture. Enditem