Children carrying water containers. [Photo: africaknows.com]The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a new vaccine that could prevent up to nine in 10 cases of typhoid fever.The experts say it could have a 'huge impact' on the 22 million cases and 220,000 deaths reported from typhoid each year, according to the Star.Crucially it works in children who are at high-risk of the infection, unlike other typhoid vaccines. It is hoped the vaccine could eventually help countries eliminate typhoid.Two typhoid vaccines are already approved to help reduce the number of cases, but none are licensed for children under the age of two.Every childhood vaccine may go into a single jab.The decision to recommend the new conjugate typhoid vaccine was made by the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (Sage)."For the first time I think we do have a very effective vaccine," Prof Alejandro Cravioto, the chairman of Sage said.Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria and patients have prolonged fever, headache, nausea, loss of appetite and constipation in one-in-100 cases.The bacteria are highly contagious and spread through contaminated food or water.The infection is most common in countries with poor sanitation and a lack of clean water, particularly in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

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