According to a study published in the Lancet Microbe journal, bacteria causing typhoid fever are becoming increasingly resistant to some of the most important antibiotics for human health. The largest genome analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) also reveals that resistant strains - almost all originating in South Asia - have spread to other countries nearly 200 times since 1990.

Typhoid fever is a global public health concern, causing 11 million infections and more than 100,000 deaths per year. While it is most prevalent in South Asia - which accounts for 70 per cent of the global disease burden - it also has significant impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, highlighting the need for a global response. Antibiotics can be used to successfully treat typhoid fever infections, but their effectiveness is threatened by the emergence of resistant S. Typhi strains.