Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) announced on October 6, 2026 the country's first confirmed local case of typhoid this year, a woman in her 30s from central Taiwan, who during the incubation period had eaten raw seafood dishes (sashimi, raw oysters, etc.) in another county, developed fever, vomiting and diarrhea in late August, sought medical care and improved, then in early September experienced intermittent fever accompanied by headache and body aches, was hospitalized, and was confirmed to have typhoid after testing. She has now recovered and been discharged. There are five contacts, all without suspected symptoms. Health authorities have initiated relevant prevention and control measures, conducting a detailed investigation of the case's dietary exposure history, and providing health education and monitoring, implementing food and hand hygiene.
According to CDC statistics, there have been a cumulative six confirmed cases this year, including one local case and five imported cases, a total lower than the 7-13 cases in the same period of 2023-2025. Since 2022, Taiwan has had a cumulative 42 confirmed typhoid cases, including 11 local cases and 31 imported cases, with the majority in the 20-39 age group, and imported cases mainly from neighboring Asian countries, with Indonesia accounting for the most (24 cases).
The CDC explains that typhoid is an intestinal infectious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi, with an incubation period of 8 to 14 days (ranging from 3 to 60 days), primarily transmitted through consumption of food or water contaminated with the feces or urine of patients or carriers. Common symptoms include continuous fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, relatively slow heart rate, or a rash on the trunk. The CDC urges the public to pay attention to food and hand hygiene; drinking water should be boiled or bottled, food must be thoroughly cooked before consumption, and cooking and preparation processes should avoid cross‑contamination between raw and cooked foods; additionally, practice good personal hygiene by correctly using soap and clean water to thoroughly clean hands before meals, after using the toilet, before handling food, or after changing diapers, to effectively prevent infection.
The CDC reminds that if the public experiences suspected symptoms, please seek medical attention promptly and inform about dietary history; medical institutions that identify suspected cases should report within 24 hours. For more information, visit the Taiwan CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) for inquiry, or call the free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922) for consultation.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Infection Control Office
