What was one of the causes of typhoid?

• A. Contaminated water
• B. Contaminated air
• C. Contaminated soil
• D. Contaminated food

Answer: (A)

Typhoid spreads through the fecal-oral route, with the Salmonella typhi bacteria entering the body when people drink water or eat food tainted with human waste. In many historical outbreaks, contaminated drinking water was the main vehicle, especially in towns with poor sanitation and sewage management. This is why contaminated water is the best answer: it directly shows how typhoid is transmitted in communities, and addressing water quality and sanitation dramatically reduces its spread.

Contaminated air isn’t a typical transmission route for typhoid, and while contaminated food can carry the bacteria, water is the more consistent and widespread source in many outbreaks.