typhoid for 5 January 2026

Typhoid Latest News

Gandhinagar is facing a surge in typhoid cases linked to contaminated drinking water, exposing serious flaws in the city's newly laid water supply system.

About Typhoid

• It is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. 
• Transmission:
  • No animals carry this disease, so transmission is always from human to human. 
  • A person typically contracts typhoid through contaminated food and drinking water. 
  • Once Salmonella Typhi bacteria are ingested, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream.
  • These bacteria are shed in the stools and urine of infected people.
• Typhoid is more prevalent in places with less efficient sanitation and hygiene.
• It is most prevalent in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms include prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhoea. 
  • Some patients may have a rash. 
  • Severe cases may lead to serious complications or even death.
  • Some people have typhoid without experiencing any symptoms. 
  • Others continue to harbor the bacteria after their symptoms have gone.
  • Sometimes, the disease can appear again.
• Treatment:
  • Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics.  
  • Antimicrobial resistance is common, with the likelihood of more complicated and expensive treatment options required in the most affected regions.

Source: TOI