[Typhoid fever and environmental contamination in Apulia Region, Italy].

The decrease of typhoid fever in Italy is described. In our country, the morbidity rate is now very close to 1/100,000, reached since the sixtie's in many european countries. It is highlighted the role of regions as Apulia and Campania which are contributing for more than 50% to the national morbidity. More specifically is analysed the endemic situation in the 12 AUSL of Apulia region allowing to evidentiate that the highest morbidity rates are found in the areas along the sea. Finally, based on the data collected from the investigations after the cholera outbreak in 1994, it is proved that the faecal contamination is responsible for the morbidity rate in Apulia 6.6/100,000 in 1999.