East Africa Water Safety
Water-borne illness is common among travelers to East Africa. To reduce the risk of water-borne disease, avoid drinking and brushing teeth with untreated tap or well water. Instead, use bottled water, or employ a method like boiling, filtering or chemical sterilization to reduce pathogens. Keep in mind that ice and water used to wash or prepare food can also make you sick. Additionally, avoid swimming in freshwater sources in East Africa, as they can harbor parasites that enter humans upon contact with the skin.
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Geography
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The region of East Africa includes the nations of Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. Travelers to these nations must take precautions to ensure that they drink and use water safely.
Prevention of Illness
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There are several simple things that travelers to East Africa can do to prevent acquiring illness from their drinking water. Since local water is often contaminated, drink bottled water whenever possible, making sure to observe that the bottle’s seal is broken in your presence. Drinking bottled water through a straw provides extra protection.
If bottled water is unavailable, boil or treat local water in order to make it safe. The CDC recommends boiling water for at least one minute in order to kill harmful pathogens. At higher altitudes (above 2000m), boil water for at least three minutes.
Travelers can also filter and treat local water with iodine or chlorine-based tablets or liquids. In some cases, filters or chemical treatments don't eliminate all pathogens on their own, and it may be necessary to use them in combination. The CDC notes that boiling is the most effective method for treating contaminated water.
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Considerations
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Local water used for purposes other than drinking can also make travelers sick. Remember to brush your teeth with bottled, filtered or treated water. Additionally, keep in mind that food prepared or washed with contaminated water can also be dangerous to your health.
Misconceptions
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Many travelers to East Africa don’t think twice about adding ice cubes to their beverages, forgetting that ice made from contaminated water can release pollutants as it melts. In restaurants, ask for drinks without ice. In rural areas, simply avoid ice or make your own ice from bottled water or water that is properly boiled, filtered or treated.
Warning
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Parasites that cause disease in humans are present in some freshwater sources in East Africa, so take precautions when swimming in or bathing with local water. These parasites enter through skin that comes in contact with the water, so do not swim or wade in freshwater in East Africa, if possible. If this is unavoidable, wear boots, gloves and other protective clothing when exposed to the water. Water used for bathing should first be boiled, filtered or treated in order to remove parasites.
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References
- Photo Credit drinking water image by PaulPaladin from Fotolia.com
