25 May 2017

Two typhoid cases in Palmerston North

12:55 pm on 25 May 2017

Two cases of typhoid in Palmerston North are related to an outbreak of the disease in Auckland last month, the MidCentral District Health Board says.

doctor generic hospital

Photo: 123RF

The MidCentral District Health Board has confirmed a patient with the disease was admitted to hospital last week.

The person was treated in isolation and has since been discharged.

A child is also confirmed to have the infection and has been treated with antibiotics.

"While this person is well, they will be treated with antibiotics to eliminate the infection," medical officer of health Patrick O'Connor said.

He said the DHB was working with the child's early childhood centre, notifying parents and carrying out tests on children and staff to see if the disease had spread.

Dr O'Connor said the cases were related to the outbreak in Auckland last month where a woman died and at least 18 others contracted the disease.

"The strain isolated from the local [adult] patient is identical to that from the Auckland cases, strongly suggesting that this was the source of the infection," he said.

"We will continue to work closely with the family and wider community to ensure that they receive the necessary information to keep themselves safe."

Typhoid is spread by eating or drinking water that is contaminated with faeces or urine from a person who has the illness, or who may be a carrier of the bacteria.