In Reply to: Staying healthy in Bali posted by btw on Saturday, 19. March 2005 at 10:52 Bali Time:
Common sense is the best way. Wash your hands with clean water and soap before eating food, or use the antiseptic hand gels from your chemist. Treat any cuts or skin breaks with antiseptic wipes etc, and cover them. Avoid scratching insect bites (antihistamine can help with the itchiness) so they don't get infected.
But I agree with other people here...you can get food poisoning just as easily from any employee in a fancy restaurant at home if they don't wash their hands properly, or cough over your food etc. Undercooked meats and improperly stored foods happen in your local eateries and supermarkets too, not just in holiday spots.
One bit of advice, though. Many people get looser bowel motions over in Bali and assume they have picked up something. Believe me, you will know if it really is food poisoning! Looser motions are often because, all of a sudden, your digestive system is getting a healthier range of foods with good fibre content, especially fresh fruits, and it takes a while for it to adjust to the sudden change in eating habits. Eat more fruit and vegetables in the weeks leading up to your travel. Move away from only refined white flour breads to brown breads, and use more brown rice, barley, lentils, vegetables etc in your meals. Up your fruit intake gradually. Then when you are eating the healthier foods in Bali your system will not get such a shock. (Have a few meals with indonesian spices too before you go, so your digestive system is accustomed to those too - or eat Thai, which is similar spices).