The new deadly superbug that has emerged in South Asia and doesn't respond to last resort treatments
If typhoid fever cannot be treated, it can lead to severe complications and even death 🚨
- Cases of typhoid fever are still found in parts of Asia, Africa and Central and South America.
- A new gene that makes it resistant to antibiotics has been discovered by scientists.
- There have been more than 15,000 cases of drug-resistant typhoid fever reported since 2016.
A new, dangerous gene that makes typhoid fever resistant to the strongest antibiotics has been discovered by scientists.
Often associated with the Victorian era, typhoid fever is still found in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America and can have deadly consequences if it is not treated.
Cases of drug-resistant typhoid fever (XDR) have been spreading in South Asia. There have been more than 15,000 cases of XDR reported since 2016 in Pakistan, with other drug-resistant strains also found in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.
The discovery, reported by The Telegraph, found a gene, known as blaNDM-5, in 32 samples collected from hospitals across western and southern India, that is resistant to carbapenem, a powerful antibiotic often seen as a last resort in treatment.
Testing the gene showed it can move between different types of bacteria, sparking fears it could quickly spread drug-resistance among typhoid.
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It is found in parts of Asia, Africa and Central and South America and spreads through unclean food or water.
What treatments are available?
Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics, which is why there are growing fears about antibiotic resistance.
Treatment can take time, with patients sometimes continuing to have a high temperature for around five days after starting treatment. However, if treated, most people will make a full recovery.
Even after treatment, symptoms can return. If this happens, you will require further treatment to clear the infection. A small number of people who recover from typhoid will become carriers, meaning they can still spread the infection to other people for months or even years.
If you are travelling to areas where there is a high risk of typhoid, there is a vaccine available. You can find out more at NHS.UK.