A new study has found that an antibiotic-resistant strain of typhoid fever has been spreading quickly across the world. According to the study, in Africa, the strain has reached an outbreak level. The study has been published in Nature Genetics journal.

As per CBS News reports, to observe the spread of the strain, the researchers used genetic sequencing. They found that the strain, H58, was in about 50% of more than 1,800 bacteria samples that were collected by the researchers from about 63 countries between the year 1992 and 2013.

According to the study, the strain had emerged about three decades ago from South Asia and now, it has been evolving in other locations too. As per the study conducted by Vanessa Wong, a University of Cambridge microbiologist, the strain has been getting new mutations to newer drugs.

The people who consume contaminated food and drinks are able to get typhoid. Common symptoms of the condition include nausea, fever, pink spots on the chest and abdominal pain. According to experts, the common strain can be treated with antibiotics. It becomes fatal in about 20% cases where it is not treated in right way.

Every year, more than 20 million people get typhoid across the world. According to reports, people in the United States are not at high risks of getting typhoid as they consume clean water. Doctors in the country have recommended that Americans who has planned to travel to Africa or Asia should get vaccinations.

As per health experts, people get typhoid when they drink or eat contaminated water or food. The normal typhoid can be treated with antibiotics that kill the harmful bacteria. In the case of typhoid, an individual with the disease dies from overwhelming infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or intestinal perforation.