While the actual number of typhoid cases in the United States is debatable, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5,700 cases of typhoid fever occur in the USA each year.
The CDC reports that nearly all confirmed cases (350) occur among international travelers.
Most travelers diagnosed with typhoid in the USA have returned from South Asia, primarily Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
As an example, the Philippines has reported 344 cases and three fatalities in Negros Occidental in early 2025.
According to the U.S. CDC, typhoid is a vaccine-preventable disease. It is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, which spreads through contaminated food and water or through close contact with someone who is infected. A gradual onset of fever over 3–7 days is typical, and life-threatening complications can arise in the second week of untreated illness.
When visiting the Philippines in 2025, the CDC recommends that most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas, take steps to prevent disease.
In an unrelated article published by The Lancet on September 3, 2025, the author wrote, ‘vaccines are available for prevention of typhoid disease, including the newer, more effective typhoid Vi-conjugate vaccines.’
‘Vaccination as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene measures are cornerstones of prevention.’