What is Giardia?
Giardia (also known as Giardia Intestinalis, Giardia Lamblia, or Giardia Duodenalis) is a protozoan parasite, which is microscopic and causes an intestinal infection known as Giardiasis.
The Giardia parasite lives in the intestines of humans and animals. Once in a host, the parasite forms a giardia cyst (a hard protective shell). When infected, the cysts can be passed out of the body when going to the toilet. Due to their protective shell they can live outside the body for several weeks. Giardiasis (also known as Beaver Fever) is most commonly spread by drinking water that’s been contaminated with infected faeces. This can occur from drinking untreated water from rivers, streams and lakes or travelling in countries with poor water quality.
Giardia Symptoms
The most common symptom of giardiasis is chronic diarrhoea, which usually occurs 1-2 weeks after ingesting the parasite. Other symptoms can include abdominal cramps, nausea, bloating, dehydration and weight loss. Some people have no symptoms but still carry the cysts and pass it on through their faeces.
According to the NHS, there are more than 3,500 cases of giardiasis reported in England and Wales each year but the actual figure is thought to be much higher.
How Water-to-Go protects you against Giardia
The Giardia cysts are generally about 6-10 μm long. The Water-to-Go water bottle houses a filter system that has an effective pore size of less than 0.7 μm preventing the giardia from getting through. The Water-to-Go filter also has a hydrostatic charge that will eliminate even smaller contaminants such as viruses.
