The AFU and Urban Legend Archive
Medical
 beaver fever




Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: ab842@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Fraser Moffatt)
Subject: Re: Beaver fever
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 1994 17:54:20 GMT

Beaver Fever is the affectionate name for Giardiasis, ask any hiker or canoeist...

Giardia is a form of nasty bacteria carried primarily by beaver and deer in the wilds. the bacteria can survive in the feces of these animals and when the feces is washed into water (a stream, lake, etc) the bacteria can survive in suspension. Humans can contract this by drinking infected water without boiling, filtering or chemically treating water (iodine).

Symptoms of Giardiasis include diahhrea, constipation, gas and painful gastro-intestinal discomfort. Treatment with a potent antibiotic (Flagyl) was prescribed after I contracted the bacteria drinking untreated water in Algonquin Park last summer. A week after starting the antibiotic, I felt fine... the trick is to catch the infection before it gets too bad..it can be painful and annoying at times.

Fraser

From: mue@cony.gsf.de (Bernhard Muenzer)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Beaver fever
Date: 6 Sep 1994 08:08:52 GMT

In article <Cvo4EK.KHu@freenet.carleton.ca>, ab842@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Fraser Moffatt) writes: [..]
| Giardia is a form of nasty bacteria carried primarily by beaver and

Actually, the little bugger is an amoeba, that's why the usual bactericidic tablets don't work.


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