The consumption of food or water contaminated with faeces from infected animals can cause infection too. Swimming in contaminated water, such as lochs or rivers, may also cause infection.
Visit NHS Inform for information about the symptoms and how to manage Giardia infection and how you can reduce the risk of infection in the outdoors environment.
Guidance
Visit the Food Standards Scotland website for information on the safe handling of food.
If you are travelling, the fitfortravel website gives advice on avoiding giardia as well as how you can reduce the chance of infection by following their food and water precautions.
For all infection prevention and control guidance visit the A-Z pathogens section of the National Infection and Prevention Control Manual.
Publications
Read more in the following scientific papers:
Data and surveillance
Surveillance reports
View our latest giardia surveillance report.
Data tables
View annual totals for giardia species in the ten-year gastrointestinal and zoonoses data tables.