By Correspondent in Minna.
Kolawole Haroun Aremu.
Health researchers have issued an urgent warning over the rising burden of typhoid fever and the rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in Nigeria, calling for immediate public health action to avert a looming crisis.
According to researcher Kolawole Haroun Aremu, typhoid fever continues to pose a major threat across sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 7.2 million cases recorded annually.
He noted that Nigeria’s situation is becoming increasingly worrisome as new evidence shows extremely high infection rates and dwindling treatment options due to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Aremu explained that a new study published in the PLOS One journal found that 36.5% of screened participants tested positive for Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium responsible for typhoid fever, adding that young adults and residents of semi-urban communities were disproportionately affected.
Equally alarming, he said, is the study’s revelation that 76% of bacterial isolates showed resistance to at least three commonly used antibiotics, sharply limiting clinicians’ ability to treat infections effectively.
“We are dealing with a severe public health threat,”
said Aremu, a Research Associate at the Trans-Saharan Diseases Research Center, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai.
“Our data revealed complete resistance to first-line antibiotics, meaning these drugs are essentially ineffective in many patients.”
He warned that untreated or poorly managed infections could lead to severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.
Public health experts responding to the study emphasized the urgent need for improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure; stricter regulation of antibiotic sales; and widespread community health education.
They also urged healthcare providers to adopt more responsible prescribing practices in line with global AMR containment guidelines.
Also speaking, the research team led by Prof. Dickson A. Musa of IBBU, Lapai, said they tested Salmonella isolates against several widely used antibiotics.
While Gentamicin (78.5%) and Levofloxacin (83.6%) demonstrated relatively high effectiveness, resistance to older and commonly prescribed drugs was extremely high:
Chloramphenicol – 96.8%
Tetracycline – 79.5%
Amoxicillin – 100%
This study, conducted between August 2023 and August 2024 across multiple communities in Niger State, highlighted key drivers of both typhoid transmission and antimicrobial resistance.
Poor sanitation, contaminated water sources, and widespread misuse of antibiotics were identified as the most significant factors.
The researchers found that participants relying on tap water recorded a 57.1% infection rate, compared to 25.6% among those using borehole water—pointing to serious contamination within public water systems.
They also reported that self-medication and over-the-counter access to antibiotics,particularly Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid combinations, which they said were strongly linked to the rise in multidrug resistance.
