Typhoid Fever risk in Chittagong

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi, spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms include prolonged fever, headache, stomach pain, and weakness. Without treatment, it can become serious and even life-threatening. Chittagong's risk score of 68/100 reflects several local challenges. The city's dense population, especially in areas like Agrabad, Khatunganj, and Chaktai, creates conditions where sanitation systems are often overwhelmed. Monsoon flooding between June and October contaminates water supplies, pushing bacteria into household sources. Street food vendors near GEC, New Market, and Station Road frequently operate without clean water access. Open drainage systems and irregular garbage collection in many neighborhoods allow bacteria to thrive. The port area adds risk through imported food items that may lack proper handling. Five practical prevention steps you can take now: Boil all drinking water for at least one minute, or use verified purification tablets. This single habit eliminates the most common route of infection. Store boiled water in clean, covered containers only. Wash hands thoroughly with soap before eating and after using the toilet, especially when returning home from crowded areas like the port zone or Bahaddarhat market. Hand sanitizer works when soap is unavailable. Avoid raw vegetables and fruits you cannot peel yourself. Salads from roadside stalls carry high risk. Eat hot, freshly cooked food instead, and choose busy vendors with high turnover. Keep your surroundings clean. Ensure household waste goes to designated collection points rather than open drains. Report blocked or broken drainage to city authorities promptly. Get vaccinated if you have not been. The typhoid conjugate vaccine provides protection for several years and is available at major hospitals in Chittagong including CMCH and Chittagong Medical College.