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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that, worldwide, there were approximately 3.2 million cases of typhoid fever in 2018. While this may not seem like a lot, it’s actually a significant increase from the past few years. If you want to know how to prevent typhoid fever, you need to know where the virus comes from. Where Do People Get Typhoid? According to the CDC, people typically get typhoid when they ingest food or drinks contaminated with stool of someone who has contracted the illness. However, some people can get it by handling items contaminated with infected feces without getting sick. Additionally, some animals can also contract typhoid through their contact with infected dirt or feces. One way to keep from contracting this illness is to make sure your environment is clean and free of mosquitos and other bugs that can carry the virus. You should also be careful about what foods you consume and make sure that your food storage containers remain tightly closed at all times to cut down on any chance of contamination during storage.
Before traveling abroad – get vaccinated!
Proper food handling
Handling food properly is an important part of preventing typhoid. The risk of contracting the disease is higher when you don’t treat food with enough care. Here are some simple food safety tips that can help you prevent typhoid: – Always wash your hands before and between meals. This is especially important before handling food, following procedures in the clinic, preparing or eating food, or preparing or disposing of waste. – Always use clean utensils to prepare and serve food. – Clean and sanitize all surfaces and utensil handles with a solution made of one part bleach to nine parts water. – Don’t share food or utensils with others. It is also a good idea to store perishable foods, like meats and dairy products, in the refrigerator.
Staying hydrated
You can prevent typhoid by staying hydrated. This is especially important for those who are at a high risk of getting the disease, like people with chronic health conditions. Here are some ways that you can stay hydrated and prevent typhoid: – Drink water regularly, especially in hot and humid conditions. – If you are feeling thirsty, drink more water than you are feeling thirsty for. Feeling thirsty means that you are already dehydrated. – Try to keep your blood concentration of sodium (the electrolyte that helps your body retain fluids) between 50 and 100 milligrams per liter (mg/l) at all times.
Sanitation is key
Keeping your food and environment as clean as possible can prevent you from contracting typhoid. Cleaning your hands with soap and water while maintaining good hygiene practices (like wiping surfaces, utensils, and countertops with an antiseptic wipe after each use) can help prevent the transmission of germs and bacteria. Keeping your water sources as clean as possible, such as by filtering or purifying your water supply, can help prevent typhoid infection by keeping the water free of bacteria. Good sanitation practices also include washing your vegetables and fruits with clean water before preparing or eating them. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and avoiding touching the handles of public toilets can also help prevent the transmission of germs and bacteria.
Avoid outdoor activities in the sun
You should avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the summer months when the risk of contracting typhoid is highest. Avoiding direct sunlight and staying in air-conditioned environments, such as a car or a building, whenever possible can help prevent you from getting sunburn and increasing your risk of contracting typhoid. Additionally, you should also drink plenty of water and make sure you don’t get dehydrated during the hot summer months when typhoid is most prevalent. Dehydration can increase your risk of contracting typhoid by lowering your blood concentration of sodium.
Typhoid vaccines and Typhoid-bacteria combination vaccines
If you are at a high risk of getting typhoid, you may be interested in getting a typhoid vaccination. In the past, the only way to prevent typhoid was to practice good hygiene, such as hand-washing and staying hydrated. However, with the advancement of typhoid vaccines, you can now get typhoid antibodies without having to practice good hygiene. One type of typhoid vaccine, known as oral typhoid vaccine, is given by mouth. It is typically given to travelers and healthcare workers who are at high risk of contracting typhoid. A second type of typhoid vaccine, known as typhoid immune globulin (ITIG), is given intravenously. ITIG has been shown to be effective in preventing person-to-person transmission of typhoid and reducing the likelihood of contracting the disease by up to 90%.
Conclusion
Typhoid fever is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening illness. Thankfully, it is preventable with the right precautions. These include staying hydrated, trying to avoid getting sunburn, and not eating food or drink that is not properly cleaned and sanitized. If you are at a high risk of getting typhoid, you should consider getting a vaccination. Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent this infection. However, they are only useful if they are administered correctly. If you want to know how to prevent typhoid, you need to know where the virus comes from. So, make sure you are staying hydrated, avoiding direct sunlight, and making sure that your food and water is properly prepared.
Before traveling abroad – get vaccinated!