Making sure that water is safe to drink is especially important. Many parasites are found primarily in tropical regions, so travelers are at greater risk in such places. Often it helps to drink only bottled water, stay protected against insect bites , and keep skin out of contact with the soil or standing water. Food and water Food can be a source of parasites. Meat in the United States that has been inspected by the Agriculture Department is nearly always free of tapeworm , but pork can sometimes contain trichinae, the parasite that causes trichonosis.
Thorough cooking kills most tapeworms, trichinae, and whipworms.
Raw fish can also be a source of parasites, although people who prepare raw fish for human consumption as sushi or sashimi are trained to watch for and eliminate infected fish. Ice as well as water can carry some diseases, including amebic dysentery . Control of agents of transmission Often the best way known to prevent infection by parasites is to control mosquitoes, snails, deer mice, ticks, or other animals that carry the parasites. A complicated life Almost all parasites live in or on at least two different kinds of animal during different parts of their lives. Each animal is called a host to the parasite.