The bacteria that cause traveller’s diarrhea (Escherichia coli) are found in local foods and water. Local drinking water is the most common source of these bacteria.

Another form of traveller’s diarrhea - giardiasis - is caused by a parasite known as Giardia lamblia. This parasite is found in rivers and streams that pass through areas inhabited by sheep, cows, goats and other livestock. The two most common ways of contracting giardiasis are drinking infected water while hiking or camping, or accidentally swallowing it while swimming in a giardia-infected lake or stream.

Prevention is Key
While you should never drink tap water when on vacation (particularly when visiting Mexico, the Caribbean, or Third World countries), there may be times when you are unsure if even the bottled water is safe. Using water purification tablets such as Aquatabs® will help safeguard your health when in foreign locales and while camping or boating, or participating in other outdoor activities.

Aquatabs® will also protect you when you are preparing coffee and other beverages, when cleaning your teeth, washing fruit and vegetables, and in emergency situations or when there is a boil water advisory. Utilized by the International Red Cross, WHO, UNICEF and other world aid agencies, these water purification tablets have been shown to protect against E. coli infections, giardiasis, cholera, typhoid and many other types of waterborne disease.

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