Practice good hygiene:
(1) Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water: after using the toilet, after changing diapers, after working with children, and before handling food. This should be done even if gloves are worn while changing diapers or handling food.
(2) Avoid swimming if experiencing diarrhea. Children in diapers with diarrhea should not be allowed to swim.
(3) Avoid fecal exposure during sex.
Avoid water that might be contaminated:
(1) Avoid swallowing recreational water in lakes, rivers, swimming pools and water parks.
(2) Avoid drinking untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds and streams.
(3) Avoid drinking untreated water during community-wide outbreaks caused by contaminated drinking water.
(4) Avoid drinking untreated water in countries where the water supply might be unsafe.
Treat water that might be contaminated by boiling or filtration.
(1) Heat water to a rolling boil for 1 minute.
(2) Use a filter with an absolute pore size of at least 1 micron or that has been NSF-rated for cyst removal.
(3) Chlorination and iodination may be ineffective; their effectiveness is dependent on temperature, pH and cloudiness of the water.
Avoid food that might be contaminated:
(1) Use uncontaminated or decontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten raw.
(2) Avoid eating uncooked food when traveling to areas where giardiasis is endemic.
