02 June 2015
Tackling Typhoid
Typhoid is a highly contagious infection, with symptoms which worsen over time, potentially leading to fatal complications in a matter of weeks when left untreated. The bacterium Salmonella Typhi (pictured) – related to the more common Salmonella bacterium which causes food poisoning – is to blame. There are vaccinations which can protect against typhoid, and antibiotics which can treat the infection, but it still remains a serious health threat in developing countries. Recently a typhoid epidemic has been reported in Africa – an infectious disease specialist team are now there addressing the problem by studying the DNA of more than 1800 samples of Salmonella Typhi bacteria. They've identified a new strain known as H58. Worryingly this strain was found to be resistant to antibiotics such as penicillin. Research is currently underway to test out available vaccines, and to work out how the H58 strain has spread so widely and become so dominant.
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