How do people get infected with Giardia?
A person has to eat or drink the Giardia lamblia cyst form. Drinking directly from contaminated lakes or streams can cause illness, even if the water appears clean. Infection can occur after ingestions of as few as 10-25 cysts. Once an animal or person has been infected with Giardia the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed into the environment in the stool. Both cysts and trophozoites can be found in the feces. Ingestion of one or more cysts may cause disease. Refer to http://health.utah.gov/epi/fact_sheets/recreationaldrinkingwater.pdf “Recreational and Drinking Water Waterborne Disease Prevention” to learn more about preventing a giardiasis infection. Where is Giardia found? Giardiasis affects all age groups in humans, and Giardia cysts can be found in dogs, beavers and other domestic and wild animals. Giardia is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals. Giardiasis has a worldwide distribution and, Gia
