Travel precautions for shigella infection include:
- Travelers to developing nations should avoid:
- Raw vegetables
- Fruit they have not peeled themselves
- Tap water, including ice
- Travelers may take 2 tablets of Pepto-Bismol with each meal and at bedtime to help prevent infection.
- Beverages should be boiled or treated to eliminate bacteria or viruses.
- Boiling clear water for 5 minutes will eliminate most pathogens.
- Chlorine or iodine tablets are also effective.
- In an emergency, fresh 5% laundry bleach can be used to purify the water.
- Five drops of bleach should be added to one quart (or liter) of water, and allowed to sit for 30 minutes prior to drinking.
- Drink bottled water:
- Bottled water is available on most tourist routes.
- Bottled beverages should be safe if the seal is not broken.
- Portable water filters are not proven to be effective.
- Do not eat salads, milk or milk products, or fruits.
- Avoid leafy, cold salads because they may have been rinsed with contaminated water.
- Vegetables should be cooked or boiled and served steaming hot.
- Meat should be thoroughly cooked.
