Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are caused by infection with the bacterium Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi or Paratyphi. Humans are the only reservoirs of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi. Typhoid is spread when a person drinks or eats food and water contaminated by human waste (stool or urine) containing Salmonella Typhi bacteria. The organism is often shed by chronic carriers of the bacteria. Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are not endemic in the United States. Travelers to developing countries where exposure to contaminated food or drink is likely should be vaccinated against typhoid fever before travel.
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Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever in King County
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Purpose of surveillance:
- To identify and track chronic typhoid carriers to prevent transmission of the disease
- To identify and eliminate sources of transmission, including contaminated food and water
Local epidemiology:
Six cases of typhoid fever were reported in 2012, with two cases in children under 18 years of age and four cases in adults age 18-44. Three of the cases were hospitalized, and none died. All six cases reported travel to India for extended stays during their exposure period.
During 2012, there were eleven cases of paratyphoid fever (10 type A; 1 type B) reported in King County residents, representing a substantial increase from previous years. Four cases were under the age of 18 years, and the remainder were between ages 18-65 years. Five cases required hospitalization; none died. All cases had returned from recent travel: seven to India, three to Indonesia, and one to Bolivia and Peru. Two of the cases were members of the same household.
Each year in Washington state there are between four and 22 cases of typhoid fever reported. Fewer than ten cases of paratyphoid fever per year are typically reported statewide.
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