Travellers overseas can contract a number of diseases by drinking and eating contaminated water and food. By being vaccinated, using good hygiene and following a few simple rules, you can avoid serious diseases like Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Traveller’s Diarrhoea.
Simple Guidelines For Safe Food and Water
- Always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating.
- Assume all water is contaminated, and make it safe (see below for instructions) before drinking or using it. Only drink sealed bottled water (make sure you break the seal yourself), boiled water or treated water with Iodine, canned drinks or hot drinks such as coffee or tea. Brush your teeth only with bottled water. Keep your mouth closed in the shower.
- Refuse ice in drinks, as it may have been made from contaminated water.
- Avoid salads as these are often washed with contaminated water.
- Eat only fruit which you have peeled yourself i.e. avoid apples with skin and grapes as these may be washed in local water or have contaminated skin.
- Food should be thoroughly cooked and eaten hot. Avoid foods, which have been precooked and reheated, cold meat, raw seafood and shellfish (such as oysters, crabs, prawns and lobster. Never eat uncooked seafood.) Always choose hot, well cooked local dishes with high turnover that have been freshly prepared and in busy restaurants.
- In very undeveloped areas, milk and other dairy products, including ice-cream, should be avoided unless you can be sure they have been pasteurised and stored properly.
- AS A SIMPLE RULE: “COOK IT, PEEL IT OR FORGET IT”.
