Typhoid - TYE-foid fever is a serious disease that can cause death. It is causing by a germ called Salmonella typhi and is spread most often through infected food or water. Typhoid may also be spread by close person-to-person contact with infected people - such as occurs with people living in the same household. Some infected people do not appear to be sick, but they can still spread the germ to others.
Typhoid fever is very rare in the USA and other areas of the world that have good water and sewage - waste systems. However, it is a problem in parts of the world that do not have such systems. If you are traveling to certain countries or remote - out-of-the-way areas, typhoid vaccine will help protect you from typhoid fever. The USA Centers for Disease Control - CDC currently recommend caution in the following areas of the world:
Typhoid vaccine taken by mouth helps prevent typhoid fever, but does not provide 100% protection. Therefore, it is very important to avoid infected people and food and water that may be infected, even if you have taken the vaccine.
To get the best possible protection against typhoid, you must complete the vaccine dosing schedule - all 4 doses of the vaccine at least 1 week before travel to areas where you may be exposed to typhoid.
If you will be traveling regularly to parts of the world where typhoid is a problem, you must get a booster - repeat dose of the vaccine every 5 years.
Typhoid vaccine is available only from a health care professional, in the following dosage form:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
In Canada