paratyphoid: could it kill again?

  A massive population collapse in Mexico followed the Spanish invasion.

Influenza, small pox, measles, mumps, etc. were the cause and of course these diseases were known to Spanish doctors, and since most Spaniards had had these diseases as children (and survived) they were immune.

But one of the largest epidemics was unknown to both Spanish and Aztec doctors:

Cocoliztli

When half of the population died: the epidemic of hemorrhagic fevers of 1576 in Mexico Some Spanish were affected, but most lived, but most of the Indian populaion died.

More here:

Megadrought and Megadeath in 16th Century Mexico

For years the reason behind this epidemic was unknown, but recent DNA studies show it might have been a paratyphoid germ.

so did it come with the Europeans? Yet a similar outbreak of a hemoorhagic fever occured before the Europeans, 

one should note that a lot of diseases could give similar symptoms of bloody diarrhea, aka dystentary and some of them have rashes.

So was it spread via vermin, or via contaminated water? That is another question since typhoid and paratyphods usually are spread via the 4F routes: Finger, feces, food and flies (insects).

And since these epidemics tended to hit when there was a drought, that makes sense: water is scarce so you wash less, and the water supply is more easily contaminated with fecal matter. Sigh

A reminder why the Four horsemen of the apocolypse were war, famine, disease, and anarchy.

a similar convergence of famine, war, and anarchy occured with the Philippine revolt against the Spanish and then against the Americans. American Apocolypse  is a book that describes how and why these things were linked, and happened even when the invaders didn't want it to happen and had a crude idea of public health and sanitation.

so should you worry about this disease being brought up from Central America and Mexico with all those immigrants?

 Probably not: since sanitation and antibiotics can stop it's spread. And these germs are already in the USA and cause outbreaks of food poisoning from salads, unclean hands, or improperly cooked chicken. I have also seen cases from those cute tiny pet turtles we used to give to kids.

 

Luckily, antibiotics, and fluids (sometimes IV Fluids are needed) treat the disease. And basic sanitation (including washing hands) can stop the spread.

There is a vaccine for typhoid, but the vaccines for paratyphoid (Salmonella) are available but have problems due to the many variations of the germ.

but when I read about the homeless in the USA, I worry about the poor sanitation will cause spread of disease: it has already resulted in a major Hepatitis A epidemic in San Diego.