Disease Information
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. In the United States about 400 cases occur each year, and 70% of these are acquired while traveling internationally. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 12.5 million persons each year.
Disease Reporting
What is required?
Health Care Providers and Clinical Laboratories
Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report cases and suspect cases of Typhoid Fever to local health departments within one working day of identification. On weekends and holidays, call 971-673-1111 to reach the state health department doctor on call.
Cases are subject to restriction on school and day-care attendance, food handling, and patient care while in the communicable stage of the disease, or for the duration of any diarrhea and/or vomiting.
Special procedures govern the management of persons infected with Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. If sufficient measures have been taken to prevent transmission, or the disease is no longer communicable, worksite, child-care and school restrictions can be removed by the local public health authority; school restrictions can be removed by a school nurse or health care provider; and health-care facility restrictions can be removed by the facility's infection control committee.
For Local Health Departments
See Also