Understanding the spread of typhoid fever: Combining vaccination and sanitation methods for better public health policies

Abstract

Typhoid fever remains a major public health concern, affecting over nine million individuals globally each year. Mathematical modeling approaches can provide valuable insights into typhoid transmission dynamics and inform preventive strategies. In this study, we developed a compartmental model incorporating key features of typhoid epidemiology and two crucial interventions: vaccination and sanitation practices. The model stratifies the population into susceptible, vaccinated, exposed, asymptomatic infected, symptomatic infected, and recovered compartments and tracks the bacterial load in the environment. We established a disease-free equilibrium and basic reproduction number R0. We also identified the endemic equilibrium and analyzed its existence. Numerical simulations demonstrated the critical impact of enhanced sanitation and vaccination in curtailing infections. Our model underscores the need for multifaceted control measures that encompass vaccine coverage, sanitation enforcement, and healthcare capacity building to mitigate typhoid in high-risk regions. This study provides a comprehensive framework to model the intricate transmission dynamics of typhoid fever, supporting informed public health policies and decision-making.