General principles of prevention of food and water borne disease are:

“Cook it, peel it, or leave it”

drink only treated or bottled water;

• eat only hot, recently cooked, well cooked food and fruit you have peeled yourself;
• avoid: ice, ice-cream, salads, raw vegetables, reheated food, shellfish, raw fish, and unpasteurised dairy products;
• be obsessive about washing and drying your hands before touching food; and
• clean your teeth and wash up dishes in treated water

To treat water

• Boil rapidly for at least 5-10 minutes (this kills most viruses & bacteria but it may take longer to kill Giardia, a common parasite contaminating water) or
• Use 2% iodine (available from chemists). Add 4 drops per litre (1 drop per cup) and stand for 30 minutes or
• Use iodine purification tablets (available from camping stores). Chlorine based tablets are less effective.

Treatment of Gastroenteritis

• Fluid replacement is the most important part of treating vomiting and diarrhoea

General treatment:

• Most travellers' diarrhoea lasts 24-48 hours.
• You should drink lots of clear fluids (no alcohol)
• Drink treated water, juice, or lemonade (diluted 1:4), or rehydration solution (use Gastrolyte, or make your own: 4 teaspoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt per litre of boiled water).
• Antidiarrhoeal medication such as Imodium will relieve the diarrhoea but not treat the infection, so it should not be used if you have high fever or blood in the motions.
• If you are becoming dehydrated, very ill, have a fever, have blood in the diarrhoea, or if you are not improving, get medical help.