Ottawa Public Health warns doctors and primary care providers of the “unusual trend” of typhoid fever in Ottawa and asks them to test and report anyone experiencing symptoms.
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by a type of Salmonella bacterium. The health department says this is not common in Canada and the cases are mostly related to travel to countries that do not have adequate wastewater and water treatment.
On average, four cases of typhoid fever are reported annually in Ottawa.
Between October 2018 and February 2022, the health department received reports of five cases of typhoid fever in Ottawa residents that appear to have been acquired locally. The health department says the five cases have common features and are monitoring whether there may be a common source of infection.
This week, public health in Ottawa sent a signal to primary care providers to inform them about the “unusual trend” of locally acquired typhoid fever. The Health Unit encourages primary care providers to test and report individuals experiencing signs and symptoms compatible with typhoid fever.
“This is not a cause for concern or concern among the general public,” said Dr. Monir Taha, a health care associate.
“The risk of typhoid fever is very low in the community, as typhoid fever is not endemic in this area and cases acquired locally are usually rare.”
Symptoms of typhoid fever include fever, headache, abdominal pain with constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite and rash.
“Proper hand hygiene and safe food preparation can help prevent disease from bacteria such as Salmonella Typhi, as well as immunization before traveling to endemic areas,” said Dr. Taha.
All five people diagnosed with typhoid fever in Ottawa have recovered.
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