Vaccine shows promise against typhoid

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A typhoid vaccine proved effective in the slums of India, where it not only helped prevent infection in children who received it, but also those in close contact who were unvaccinated, a new study found.

The findings may bolster the World Health Organization’s push to start vaccine campaigns in poor countries against this often-fatal bacterial disease.

The vaccine was 80 percent effective in preventing typhoid fever among children ages 2 to 5, researchers found. Among unvaccinated neighbors who were in contact with the immunized children, the vaccine offered 44 percent protection.

Typhoid fever is a serious health threat in the developing world, where it affects about 22 million people a year.