People close to typhoid patients asked to stop handling food as confirmed cases remains at 18

The number of people in Auckland confirmed to have contracted typhoid remains at 18 today; with one probable case and two others still under investigation.

The Auckland Regional Public Health said this afternoon that of those cases, three people remained in hospitals around the city.

All patients - including children - are connected to the Mt Albert Samoan Assembly of God church congregation which holds its Sunday services at Wesley Primary School in Mt Roskill.

"More cases may come to light as a result of the work ARPHS is doing to trace those who have been in contact with people confirmed as having typhoid,'' a statement said.

"Typhoid has a typical incubation period of eight to 14 days, but incubation can be up to 80 days. This means cases may emerge over the course of several weeks.''

Health officials are urging anyone who has close contacts to those affected by the disease to take extra precautions.

"Public health services have asked close contacts of typhoid patients who are in settings where there is an increased risk of transmission, such as food handlers, to stand down until they're cleared.''

Meanwhile, the ARPHS is also reassuring members of the wider Samoan and Pacific communities in Auckland that the typhoid break is localised.

The fact that all those affected were from the same church and from the Samoan community had many within the Pasifika communities worried.

But the ARHPS has reiterated the message that casual contact - such as hugging and kissing - was not how typhoid spread.

"Hugging and kissing each other or casual contact does not spread typhoid,'' a statement said.

"Typhoid is only spread by eating food or drink that is contaminated by the faeces or urine from a person who has the illness or may be a carrier of the bacteria.''

With the weekend approaching, and particularly Sunday, when many within the Pasifika community come together for family feasts and church activities, messages such as washing hands thoroughly when preparing food were very important.

The ARPHS also said that once an infected person was effectively treated in hospital, the risk of them spreading the disease was significantly reduced.