Giardia (Origional)

If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise -- if you drink contaminated water. Learn how to keep today from being the day you get Giardia. From the CDC: Giardia spreads easily; swallowing just a few Giardia germs can make you sick. Giardia germs are in poop of people or animals who are infected, so anything that gets contaminated by human or animal poop can potentially spread the germs. Giardia can spread from one person to another. It can also spread through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or objects. You can get sick from Giardia by: Having close contact with someone who is sick from Giardia, especially in childcare settings Swallowing water contaminated with Giardia, such as lake, pool, or unsafe drinking water Swallowing food contaminated with Giardia Having contact with poop during sex with someone who is sick, or was recently sick, from Giardia Getting Giardia in your mouth that you picked up from contaminated surfaces, such as bathroom handles or toys Touching animals that have a Giardia infection or animal environments that are contaminated with poop Anyone can get sick from Giardia, but children get sick more often than adults.