On April 17, 2018, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced 1 new imported case of typhoid fever in an over 20-year-old female who resides in northern Taiwan. During March 8 and 27, she visited New Delhi, India on a business trip. When she was in India, she developed symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea and fever, but she did not seek medical attention. It was estimated that her disease onset date was March 25. When she returned to Taiwan on March 28, she sought medical attention in the emergency department at a hospital. Subsequently, when her symptoms, including diarrhea and fever, persisted, she was hospitalized for further treatment on April 7. After the hospital reported the patient as a suspected case to the health authority on April 13, infection with typhoid fever was laboratory confirmed in the case on the same day. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case consumed raw fish and shrimp during her business trip to India. In addition, her friend who went on the same trip with her has also developed diarrhea. The local health authority has arranged to collected specimen from the friend for testing. Other related contacts are being investigated.

According to Taiwan CDC’s surveillance data, thus far this year, as of April 17, a total of 5 typhoid fever cases, including 2 indigenous cases and 3 imported cases, have been confirmed in Taiwan. The imported cases respectively acquired infection in India (2) and the Philippines (1). In the last 3 years (2015-207), a cumulative total of 12, 1 and 7 cases were respectively confirmed during the same period. Among the cases, 8, 0 and 6 imported cases were confirmed during the same period in the past 3 years. The majority of the imported cases (7) became infected in Indonesia, while the rest became infected in other neighboring countries in Asia.

Typhoid fever is a gastrointestinal infectious disease. The incubation period is usually 8-14 days, but it can vary from 3 days to 1 month. Infection is most often acquired through consumption of water or food that has been contaminated by feces of an infected person or a carrier. Most commonly seen symptoms include persistent fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea and cough. To ward off infection, consume only thoroughly cooked food, avoid consuming raw food, consume only boiled or bottled water, practice good personal hygiene habits, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before meals and after using the bathroom.

Taiwan CDC recommends travelers planning to visit areas affected by typhoid fever to consider the need for typhoid fever vaccination through consulting the outpatient travel clinic at contracted hospitals in the nation prior to their trip. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).