Typhoid tests carried out on children and adults in region

Palmerston North’s two typhoid patients will remain in isolation until next week in an effort to contain the infection.

Meanwhile, 28 people have been tested for typhoid, including 11 children under 5 years of age. Seven results are still to be received, but the rest tested negative.

MidCentral District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Patrick O’Connor said no other cases of typhoid had been found.

A child and a young adult were confirmed to have contracted the infection last week. The young adult had a family link to the Auckland typhoid outbreak in April, in which one person died.

Both the child and young adult were now at home, after being treated with antibiotics.

‘‘They have been advised that they need to remain at home until such time as the treatment has been confirmed as successful,’’ O’Connor said.

‘‘This information should be available by June 9 after follow-up specimens have been tested and cleared.’’

O’Connor said the best protection was to pay attention to personal hygiene, particularly washing and drying hands after going to the toilet, changing nappies, and before preparing food.

‘‘They have been advised that they need to remain at home until such time as the treatment has been confirmed as successful.’’ Dr Patrick O'Connor