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Active-Ad3977 t1_iy8mmke wrote

Reply to comment by Tawptuan in June, 1955. My grandfather was happy to return home after a few years on the east coast by Nixx_Mazda

There was no Giardia before 1950?

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Calamity_Jesus t1_iy8qerk wrote

Out of sight, out of mind. My understanding is that while it has always been prevalent, it wasn't really identified officially as being prevalent in the American wilderness until the 1970s (when researchers went looking for it).

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Tawptuan t1_iyap5oc wrote

Exactly. Interestingly, I freely drank unfiltered wilderness water for 20 years before the 1970 research with no problems. Then added those gagging iodine pills for the next 20, followed by a proper mechanical filter for another 20 yrs. A victim of hyped research and clever marketing? 🤷🏼‍♂️

I guess the sad alternative might have been my epitaph: “Here lies wilderness enthusiast JQ, killed by Giardia at 97 years old.” 🙄

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