Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a disease caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia, also known as Giardia intestinalis. Symptoms of giardiasis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, frequent, loose stools and weight loss. Symptoms may disappear and reappear over long periods of time. It is spread by consuming contaminated food or water or through close contact with an infected person. For more information, see the health unit's Giardiasis Fact Sheet.

The following graph shows the number of giardiasis cases in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2008.  There are many factors that influence how many cases are reported to the health unit, as explained on the Infectious Diseases page.

The following graph shows the incidence rate of giardiasis in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario between 2000 and 2008.

The Simcoe Muskoka incidence rate is lower than the Ontario rate for most years. Both rates experience an overall decrease between 2000 and 2008.