NewsDesk @bactiman63

Taiwan health officials reported today on the first local confirmed case of typhoid fever in the country this year.

Salmonella serotype Typhi
Typhoid image/CDC

The case is a male in his 30s from  northern Taiwan who has developed symptoms of fever, headache, diarrhea, watery stools, fatigue, and loss of appetite since July 11.

The symptoms have improved after several visits to the doctor and medication. On August 12, symptoms such as fever, headache, arthralgia, neck stiffness, and fatigue reappeared. On August 18, he went to the doctor for examination and was hospitalized the next day. On August 21, he was detected Salmonella typhi was confirmed and the case is still being hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the case had no recent history of foreign travel, and only traveled to outlying islands with his family at the end of June. There were 8 family members and accompanying tourists who lived with him, and none of them had suspected symptoms. The health unit has launched various epidemic prevention and control investigations, and collected stool samples from the case’s co-residents and companions for testing.

According to the statistics of the epidemic situation of the CDC, there have been 6 confirmed cases of typhoid fever in Taiwan this year, of which 1 is a local case and the other 5 are imported cases.

Typhoid fever is a serious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi (Typhi) bacteria. The bacteria spread through contaminated food and water and person-to-person contact.

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Symptoms of typhoid fever include high fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, constipation or diarrhea, cough, and loss of appetite. Typhoid fever can be fatal without appropriate antibiotic treatment.