Those planning to travel to Africa or Asia anytime soon may want to reschedule their trip as there is a drug-resistant strain of typhoid fever, known as H58, that has been rapidly spreading around the world. The powerful strain has been sweeping through Africa, leaving many in a panic about the possibility of a new epidemic occurring.
A recent study published in Nature Genetics profiled the H58 bacteria and its findings were cause for concern among the health care community. The H58 bacteria was examined by researchers from 12 nations and it was found that the sample of Salmonella typhi that they tested were of the H58 variety. They collected samples from 63 countries and the H58 variety was found in 47% of the samples.
This particular strain is believed to have evolved about 30 years ago in South Asia. Biologists are under the impression that it traveled to western Asia, eastern and southern Africa then to Fiji.
How is typhoid fever contracted?
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that is caused by Salmonella typhi. The disease is contracted through the consumption of food and drinks that have been contaminated by human feces.Symptoms of the disease include fever, nausea, pink spots on the chest and abdominal pain. With regular strain of typhoid being treatable with antibiotics, it is important that anyone experiencing symptoms gets treated immediately, as the disease can be fatal.
Africa, which is currently recovering from an Ebola outbreak, has been suffering a lot lately. The CDC reported that there were a total of 11,064 deaths from Ebola between the countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leonne.
There is about 20 to 30 million people who contract typhoid fever every year worldwide. This mostly occurs in places where access to clean drinking is low, like Africa and Asia. In these countries, it is easy for fecal matter enter water and then be consumed, infecting millions.
Although there is no direct threat to people living in the United States, those traveling outside of the country will want to take the necessary steps to not contract the disease, including receiving a vaccination for the regular strain of typhoid fever.
