Typhoid (typhoid fever) is a serious disease that, if not treated, can kill up to 30% of the people who get it. Some people who get typhoid become “carriers,” who can spread the disease to others. Generally, people get typhoid from contaminated food or water. Typhoid is rare in the U.S. and most U.S. citizens who get the disease get it while traveling.

There are two vaccines to prevent typhoid. One is an inactivated (killed) vaccine gotten  as a shot. The other is a live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine which is taken orally (by mouth).