Prevention of Giardiasis

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Giardiasis can be prevented by following good hygiene practices:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, before any sort of food preparation, after handling raw meat and fish, after cleaning out pet litter trays and after gardening.
Teach children how to wash their hands properly, and supervise them until theyâ€™ve got the hang of it. Make sure they wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.
Wash soiled clothing and bed linen in the washing machine on a hot cycle â€“ (flush as much faecal matter as possible down the toilet first). You can also soak clothes and bed linen in disinfectant before washing them to reduce the risk of contamination. Wear rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Clean toilet seats, flush handles, door handles and taps frequently.
Don't swim, or let your children swim, in pools, rivers, lakes or the sea during an episode of diarrhoea, and for at least two weeks after giardia has been treated.
When travelling, check whether the tap water is safe to drink. Use bottled, purified or boiled water if it isnâ€™t, and avoid ice cubes and fruit, salad or vegetables washed in tap water.

If you or someone you live with has giardiasis, avoid sharing towels until the infection has cleared up and keep communal areas as clean as possible. Use a condom for any sexual activity and avoid exposure to faeces during sexual contact.