Thread: giardia

Hi,

here in Austria you can drink from almost any small creek in the mountains. But I know that giardia is quite an issue in the US... so I’d like to ask how the situation is in NZ, especially in the backcountry of the South Island. Is some sort of water purification necessary? If yes, which system do you prefer?

Thank you!

Always used water straight from the streams/rivers/lakes and never had any issues. (touch wood). But I stay away from busy huts and tourist spots.

Stay away from popular tracks etc and you will be fine. I doubt it could take hold on the west coast of the south island due to our high rainfall. We have had 6m so far this year and the backcountry in places is up to 9m

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9 meters! why bother with bending down to reach the stream? Tip your head back open your mouth: sorted.

Sadly, not unknown on the Coast:

From 2015 - "Every spring we see an increase in notifications of gastroenteritis illness on the West Coast. This year has been no exception with some 40 notifications since the beginning of September. More than half are cases of Campylobacteriosis, with Cryptosporidiosis the next most common and the rest including Giardiasis, Salmonellosis and Yersiniosis. Of the cases of gastroenteritis notified at this time of year some 80% have a link to dairy cows and calves. The majority of cases are in farmers or members of farming families and associated occupations such as abattoir workers. Some cases have also been linked to white baiting and recreational water contact in creeks and streams downstream of dairy farms."

Giardia-intestinalis-Datasheet.pdf

Originally Posted by sightpicture

Sadly, not unknown on the Coast:

From 2015 - "Every spring we see an increase in notifications of gastroenteritis illness on the West Coast. This year has been no exception with some 40 notifications since the beginning of September. More than half are cases of Campylobacteriosis, with Cryptosporidiosis the next most common and the rest including Giardiasis, Salmonellosis and Yersiniosis. Of the cases of gastroenteritis notified at this time of year some 80% have a link to dairy cows and calves. The majority of cases are in farmers or members of farming families and associated occupations such as abattoir workers. Some cases have also been linked to white baiting and recreational water contact in creeks and streams downstream of dairy farms."

Attachment 125651

Didn't say it was unknown on the coast but you are unlikely to get it in the backcountry.


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https://sawyer.com/products/mini-filter/

Originally Posted by R93

Didn't say it was unknown on the coast but you are unlikely to get it in the backcountry.

True. The risk is low, but non-trivial. I 'see' an average of about one sufferer a month in summer who's been drinking from our streams and rivers.

Thank you, everybody! So the situation is not too different from what it is here.
Cool tip with that mini filter, too. Might get myself one.

I use a “lifesaver” bottle. Built in filter, easy to fill from a stream etc and not too hard to suck through.

I don’t know the lifesaver but the sawyer mini is brilliant. Very small and light and very easy to use. We’ve used it to turn yellow stagnant tarn water into clear drinkable stuff- allows us to camp places with no good water supply (and not walk in with litres in our packs!)

I've had it, caught while back packing through South East Asia....... I didn't really think it was that bad but I cleared the flat when I went to the Loo

Flat mates ( nurse's ) thought I should go see a doctor, turns out I had Giardia,, dose of anti biotic's and it was sorted. No big deal.

shit i though ya was talkinabout thatitalian sheila who cook on TV.now Id happily grab a mouthful and get a dose!
realistically dont ever try drinking from lake ellesmere or anywhere near -youre likely to end up shitting hob goblins by the battalion.U Its fuckin rife with natural toxins!

Originally Posted by MB

https://sawyer.com/products/mini-filter/

I use this too when in doubt.

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Upstream from civilization/farming and you could consider it safe..

As for water sources around huts... use water from the tap or upstream from hut / toilet.

I have never had a problem.

But then... I don't have water purification products to sell either.