Typhoid fever: continuing challenges from a resilient bacterial foe

Abstract

Diarrhoeal diseases are still responsible for 3 million deaths each year, of which an estimated 600,000 deaths are caused by typhoid fever. Prevention of enteric diseases comprises basic sanitary and hygiene measures including purifying water supplies, improving water delivery and sewage control, supplying handwashing facilities, latrines, boiling water and supervising foodhandlers. Most of the time, however, it is difficult to apply these recommendations properly, and the problems are compounded by the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Salmonella typhi. Efforts to develop effective treatments and vaccines against these diseases are discussed.