Typhoid in Zimbabwe demands vigilance
Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Tokai Medicross has advised vigilance following an outbreak of typhoid in Zimbabwe.
He said that a spike in typhoid cases in southern Africa at this time of year is not unusual, but that given the volume of cross-border traffic, the public should be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention early in the event that they experience fever or flu-like symptoms. “In the early stages, typhoid and malaria may present similar symptoms and both of these are potentially life-threatening conditions – particularly if medical help is not sought immediately,” he cautioned.
Netcare Travel Clinics explained that typhoid is a bacterial illness spread via the faecal-oral route, through contaminated food or water or close contact with an infected person. In addition to the flu-like symptoms and fever, other symptoms may include nausea, abdominal pain, weakness, constipation or diarrhoea, loss of appetite and, sometimes, a rash of flat rose-coloured spots on the skin.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), anyone presenting with fever or flu-like symptoms, who either lives in a malaria area or has visited a malaria transmission area, should first be tested for malaria. “This is because malaria can very quickly develop into a life-threatening condition but with early detection and treatment, it can be effectively managed,” Dr Vincent explained. “While typhoid fever is also potentially life-threatening, malaria treatment must commence early in the onset of illness in order to be effective, while the window period for typhoid treatment is slightly longer. Malaria is also associated with a higher probability of complications if treatment does not commence very soon once symptoms appear.”
Netcare Travel Clinics has issued tips for the prevention of typhoid fever. These include: consult a travel doctor if you are planning a visit to a typhoid area and discuss whether having a typhoid vaccine is advisable; drink bottled water, preferably sparkling mineral water, rather than tap water, and check that the seal on the bottle lid is intact when you open it, to ensure the contents have not been replaced with ordinary tap water; wash hands often and thoroughly with soap and use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, especially after going to the toilet and before and after handling food; and be aware that travellers returning from typhoid areas may be infectious, even if they do not fall ill themselves.
The company’s tips for prevention of malaria include: before travelling to an area where malaria is endemic, visit a travel clinic for advice on malaria prophylaxis; if you are wearing sun protection lotion, apply mosquito repellent after the sunscreen; protect yourself with a mosquito net when sleeping; and always seek medical attention immediately if you experience fever or flu-like symptoms during or after travel. Malaria incubation may take up to 40 days.