What Is Giardiasis?
2. Prevalence
The organisms that cause giardiasis exist all over the world. It is most common in areas where water quality and sanitation are poor. Specific regions where giardiasis is endemic include western South America, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. Giardiasis is often the cause of travelers’ diarrhea that afflicts people who travel to these regions.
Intestinal parasites, in general, are relatively rare in the United States. Giardia lamblia is the most common cause of intestinal parasitic infections in the U.S., but even it only accounts for approximately 20,000 cases per year. Giardiasis is much more common in pets and wild animals than it is in people. However, it is a zoonotic disease, which means that human beings can pick it up from animals.
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