PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Typhoid fever remains a major health burden in many low- and middle-income countries, but limited surveillance data have slowed vaccine rollout. This study found that testing wastewater for Salmonella Typhi could help identify high-risk areas and support more targeted typhoid vaccination programs.

Historically, three global pandemics have inflicted heavy disasters on human society. Despite improvements in control measures and the application of antibiotics, plague has been somewhat controlled; however, since the beginning of the 21st century, plague outbreaks have continued to occur in regions with a high burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) infect over 1.5 billion people worldwide, causing serious health issues, especially among women of reproductive age and school-age children. High reinfection rates and limited integration with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and routine primary health care programs make the effectiveness of long-term control challenging.