Actual likelihood of getting sick from food on a careful 2 week trip?
3 Answers from travellers
Realistic: 20-40% of tourists experience some mild GI upset on a 2-week Sri Lanka trip. 'Sri Lanka belly' is usually 1-2 days of loose stools, not full food poisoning. Not usually from food - often from water contamination (ice, salad wash, brushing teeth), spice load (unaccustomed digestion), or fatigue lowering immunity. Careful eaters (busy restaurants, no ice from unknown sources, no raw salads outside upscale places, hand sanitizer religiously) reduce risk to ~15%. Real food poisoning (24+ hours, fever, dehydration) is rare - maybe 5%.
^ this. Also carry: ORS packets (any pharmacy), Imodium (for emergencies not extended use), probiotics (start pre-trip). If something hits, hydrate and rest 24 hours, usually resolves. If fever + blood/mucus, get to a private hospital - Salmonella and dysentery exist. Rare but real.
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