Hepatitis A and Typhoid: Why These Two Often Come as a Pair

Hepatitis A and typhoid are two different infections caused by two different organisms, but they're frequently recommended together, and for a simple reason: both typically spread through contaminated food and water, so the travel situations that put you at risk of one tend to put you at risk of the other.

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection. Most people recover, though it can take weeks and occasionally longer, with fatigue and jaundice among the more unpleasant symptoms. Typhoid is bacterial, caused by Salmonella typhi, and without treatment it can become a serious, prolonged illness with high fever.

Because the exposure routes overlap so much, combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines exist specifically to cover both in a single course, which is often more convenient than two separate appointments.

Neither vaccine removes the need for basic precautions once you arrive. Sticking to bottled or treated water, being cautious with ice, salads and unpeeled fruit, and choosing food that's freshly cooked and served hot all remain relevant, vaccinated or not.

If your trip takes you outside Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand, it's worth asking your clinic specifically whether a combined hepatitis A/typhoid vaccine makes sense for your itinerary.