Typhoid Fever

Overview

  • Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella serotype Typhi. It is transmitted by consuming food or drink which has been contaminated by the feces (poop) of an infected person.
  • Typhoid can cause a high fever, weakness, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pains, and a rash of flat, rose-colored spots.
  • Typhoid is deadly without treatment, killing up to one-third of people who become infected. It can be treated with antibiotics, but drug-resistant strains are a growing problem.
  • Typhoid is rare in the United States, and most people from the United States who get the disease get it while traveling. This deadly infection strikes millions of people a year around the world.
  • Effective vaccines are available to prevent typhoid fever.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine Schedule

Typhoid Fever Vaccine Schedule

If you are traveling to a country where typhoid fever is common, you should consider getting vaccinated. Visit a doctor or travel clinic to discuss your vaccination options. You may be offered an injection or a series of capsules to take by mouth. Remember that you will need to complete your vaccination(s) at least 1–2 weeks before you travel so that the vaccine has time to take effect.

Partner Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid Fever

General information about the disease and vaccination. Also from CDC, see Typhoid Fever Vaccination.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Travelers’ Health: Typhoid Fever

The typhoid fever chapter from the CDC Yellow Book for travel-associated infections and diseases. CDC also has a Destinations tool to find the latest health and vaccine information by country.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
A Look at Each Vaccine: Typhoid Vaccine

Questions and answers about typhoid and vaccines from the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

International Society of Travel Medicine. Promoting healthy travel since 1991.
Global Clinic Directory

The online global clinic directory is a database of International Society of Travel Medicine members and their global travel clinics. Users can search by location and by services offered.

WHERE TO GET VACCINATED

State and local information for vaccination resources near you.

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