Because the vaccine won t provide complete protection, follow these guidelines as well: Wash your hands. Frequent hand-washing is the best way to control infection. Wash your hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water, especially before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for times when water isn t available. Avoid drinking untreated water. Contaminated drinking water is a particular problem in areas where typhoid is endemic. For that reason, drink only bottled water or canned or bottled carbonated beverages, wine and beer. Carbonated bottled water is safer than uncarbonated bottled water is. Wipe the outside of all bottles and cans before you open them. Ask for drinks without ice. Use bottled water to brush your teeth, and try not to swallow water in the shower. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Because raw produce may have been washed in unsafe water, avoid fruits and vegetables that you can t peel, especially lettuce. To be absolutely safe, you may want to avoid raw foods entirely. Choose hot foods. Avoid food that s stored or served at room temperature. Steaming hot foods are best. And although there s no guarantee that meals served at the finest restaurants are safe, it s best to avoid food from street vendors — it s more likely to be contaminated. Set aside towels, bed linen and utensils for your own use and wash them frequently in hot, soapy water. Heavily soiled items can be soaked first in disinfectant.