Travel precautions for shigella infection include:
Travelers to developing nations should avoid:
Raw vegetables
Fruit they have not peeled themselves
Tap water, including ice
Travelers may take 2 tablets of Pepto-Bismol with each meal and at bedtime to help prevent infection.
Beverages should be boiled or treated to eliminate bacteria or viruses.
Boiling clear water for 5 minutes will eliminate most pathogens.
Chlorine or iodine tablets are also effective.
In an emergency, fresh 5% laundry bleach can be used to purify the water.
Five drops of bleach should be added to one quart (or liter) of water, and allowed to sit for 30 minutes prior to drinking.
Drink bottled water:
Bottled water is available on most tourist routes.
Bottled beverages should be safe if the seal is not broken.
Portable water filters are not proven to be effective.
Do not eat salads, milk or milk products, or fruits.
Avoid leafy, cold salads because they may have been rinsed with contaminated water.
Vegetables should be cooked or boiled and served steaming hot.
Meat should be thoroughly cooked.
Avoid pork.