Food and Water Precautions

Precautions concerning food and drinking water will reduce your risk of contact with food and water borne disease such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Cholera and traveller's diarrhoea.

Overseas travellers frequently suffer from gastric (stomach) upsets that are caused by viruses, bacteria and parasitic worms not found in Australia. These are transmitted by:

• Improperly prepared foods
• Untreated water
• Poor personal hygiene

Food Precautions:

- Ensure that your food is thoroughly cooked and eaten hot.
- Avoid pre-cooked and reheated foods.
- Avoid cold meats, salads, mayonnaise, seafood, milk and other dairy products.
- Eat only thick skinned fruits that you have peeled yourself.
- Ensure that you wash your hands with soap and water prior to eating or handling all food.

Water Precautions:

- Whenever possible drink bottled water only and make sure the bottle is properly sealed.
- Water that has been boiled for 10 minutes is the best to ensure safe drinking water when bottled water is not available and is good for brushing your teeth.
- Water purification tablets should be used as directed.
- Canned/bottled drinks and drinks made with bottled water are safe.
- Avoid ice in your drinks as well as ice cream and ice-blocks.

Gastric upsets can be identified by abdominal cramping, diarrhoea, fever, nausea or vomiting. If you experience more than six loose stools and/or have blood in the stool, seek medical advice immediately.

Treatment of these symptoms includes re-hydration and rest. Preparations such as Gastrolyte and diluted fruit juice are good for re-hydration but be sure to make any preparations exactly as directed. Failure to re-hydrate can lead to further dehydration and possible hospitalization.

Medications such as Imodium, Stemetil, Panamax co and Noroxin can be used as directed.