First Domestic Typhoid Case of the Year Detected! Elderly Woman in Central Taiwan Diagnosed with Diarrhea; CDC Warns of 8 Key Symptoms

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today (6th) the first domestically acquired typhoid case of 2026. The case involves a woman in her 70s from central Taiwan with a history of chronic illness and no recent domestic or international travel. She began experiencing fever and diarrhea in mid-July. As her symptoms did not improve, she sought medical care and was hospitalized. Laboratory testing confirmed typhoid fever, and she has since been discharged and is recuperating at home.

Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng stated that epidemiological investigations identified three household contacts and 42 close contacts. One contact reported diarrhea symptoms. Health authorities conducted testing on the three household members and the symptomatic contact. All four tested negative.

According to CDC statistics, including this case, Taiwan has recorded four typhoid cases in 2026: one domestically acquired and three imported. The number of domestic cases is consistent with the same period from 2022 to 2025, which ranged from one to three cases annually. Since 2022, Taiwan has reported a total of 40 cases: 11 domestic and 29 imported. Most cases occurred among individuals aged 20 to 39. Among imported cases, Indonesia accounted for the highest number with 22 cases.

Lin explained that typhoid fever is a Category II notifiable infectious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria. The incubation period typically ranges from 8 to 14 days but can extend from 3 to 60 days. The disease spreads primarily through consuming food or water contaminated by the feces or urine of infected individuals or carriers. Common symptoms include persistent fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, relative bradycardia, and rose-colored rashes on the trunk.

The CDC urges the public to maintain strict food and hand hygiene. Drinking water should be boiled or bottled. Food must be thoroughly cooked before consumption, and cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods during preparation should be avoided. Additionally, practicing good personal hygiene—such as thoroughly washing hands with soap and water before meals, after using the toilet, before handling food, or after changing diapers—is essential to prevent infection.