Birmingham man treated for typhoid-type disease

A man from Birmingham is being treated at home after contracting a disease related to typhoid fever.

The man from Sparkhill is recovering after contracting ParatyphoidA fever, the Health Protection Agency said.

"Paratyphoid fever is a similar disease to typhoid fever but generally milder and treatable with antibiotics," an HPA spokeswoman said. Most UK cases are in people who have visited South Asia.

The man's close family are being screened as a precaution.

ParatyphoidA infection occurs worldwide but most UK cases are in travellers returning from Pakistan, Bangladesh or India, the HPA said.

The disease, which is caused by the bacterium Salmonella paratyphi, is usually acquired through ingesting contaminated food or water.

About 200 cases of the disease are reported in the UK each year.