Taking on Typhoid: Eliminating Typhoid Fever as a Global Health Problem

Abstract

Typhoid fever is a significant global health problem that impacts people living in areas without access to clean water and sanitation. However, collaborative international partnerships and new research have improved both knowledge of the burden in countries with endemic disease and the tools for improved surveillance, including environmental surveillance. Two typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) have achieved World Health Organization prequalification, with several more in the development pipeline. Despite hurdles posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, multiple TCV efficacy trials have been conducted in high-burden countries, and data indicate that TCVs provide a high degree of protection from typhoid fever, are safe to use in young children, provide lasting protection, and have the potential to combat typhoid antimicrobial resistance. Now is the time to double down on typhoid control and elimination by sustaining progress made through water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements and accelerating TCV introduction in high-burden locations.

Keywords: elimination; typhoid; typhoid conjugate vaccines.

Figure 1.

IHME estimated incidence of typhoid in 2019 and TCV introduction status as of April 2023 [1] (PATH representatives, email communication, April 28, 2023). Abbreviations: IHME, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; TCV, typhoid conjugate vaccine.

Figure 2.

A roadmap for eliminating typhoid as a global health problem. Abbreviations: TCV, typhoid conjugate vaccine; WASH, safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene.