Typhoid Fever

Typhoid Fever is a disease of the bowel and bloodstream, caused by a bacteria which only infects humans. It is a problem in countries with poor sanitation or a lack of clean water. Most cases in travellers are in those who have visited India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but typhoid is found worldwide.

Symptoms

Fever, headache, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell. The fever tends to be higher late afternoon or evening.

How do you catch typhoid fever?
Typhoid is most commonly caught through drinking water or eating food that is contaminated by infected human faeces or urine.

Incubation period
1-3 weeks

Diagnosis
Medical examination, blood tests, and tests on stool specimens or bone marrow confirm the diagnosis.

Prevention
A vaccination is available, but travellers must also take care to avoid eating or drinking contaminated food and water and should wash hands before preparing or eating food.

Treatment
Typhoid can be treated with antibiotics, but sometimes relapses can occur. Relapses do not tend to be severe.

Book Appointment

Vaccination options

Can be offered alone or combined with hepatitis A. Oral live vaccine is also available but not suitable for everyone.

Level of protection: ~ 70-80%

Protection duration: 3 years.

How is it given: Single injection or oral vaccine: 3 capsules taken on alternate days.

Ideally start: 2-3 weeks before travel.

£45.00 Pricing shown is per dose

View our prices

Did you know?

  • Without treatment typhoid fever can be fatal.
  • As well as an injectable vaccine, an oral vaccine is also available.
  • There is a very similar disease called ‘Paratyphoid fever’ which is similar to typhoid fever. There is no vaccine for this.

Clinical Oversight By:

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross OStJ is the Medical Director of MASTA and has been associated with MASTA since 2005. He served 41 years in the Army, including over 10 years as senior advisor on public health to the UK Surgeon General. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John.

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross is the Medical Director at MASTA and has been associated with the company since 2005. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1983 and graduated in medicine from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London in 1986. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John. He was the senior advisor on public health from 2012–2023 to the UK Surgeon General. He retired from the Army in October 2024, after 41 years active service.

Professor David Ross was Director of Education, Honorary Secretary, and Vice Dean before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons (Glasgow) in October 2024. Recent travel medicine research interests have included malaria prevention and tuberculosis screening. He was Chief Examiner of the Diploma of Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophes at the Society of Apothecaries until 2024, is Chair of the Final UK MFPH and an Examiner at the UK Faculty of Public Health.

The last few years of his military working life were dominated by supporting the international and national public health response to COVID-19, where he managed many large COVID outbreaks both overseas and in the UK. David also led research into risk factors for mental ill health in the UK Army and for this was awarded a PhD by the University of Glasgow in 2024.