KEY POINTS:
Health officials are investigating an outbreak of typhoid in South Auckland, which has led to four people being hospitalised.
Auckland Medical Officer of Health Craig Thornley told NZPA today four people in Clendon had been diagnosed with typhoid within the past month.
Dr Thornley said there were about 20 cases of typhoid a year in the Auckland area and the cluster was unusual.
"It's difficult to try to distinguish whether this is part of that figure or a cluster."
Of the four people affected, officials were focused on three in the group in particular, he said.
"Three people consumed food from four particular food outlets, while the fourth was not linked," he said.
Dr Thornley would only describe the food outlets as "ready to eat" and said to call them fast food outlets was not accurate.
Two people described as middle-aged and two late-teenaged people had required hospitalisation, he said.
"All have recovered and it is not unusual for people suffering from typhoid to require hospitalisation as they become quite unwell."
Symptoms can include high fever, sweats, aches and pains and a rash on the stomach, he said.
"Most people get through it, some require hospitalisation and antibiotics generally clear the symptoms up."
In extreme cases it can be fatal, he said.
Dr Thornley said officials were focusing on the four food outlets which the people had in common.
"It can take 30 days from being exposed to developing the symptoms so it can be hard to establish where they may have gotten it from."
Officials were speaking with the food outlets to determine if any staff who had been involved in food preparation may have been sick, he said.
"At this stage there is no proof the food outlets have caused this."
Poor hand hygiene and poor food handling can contribute to spreading of typhoid, he said.
Dr Thornley said the four people were not related.
- NZPA
