Around 2.1 million British tourists suffered from food-related illnesses in 2003. But by following a few simple precautions, says Steve Tate, CEO with food hygiene specialist Check Safety First, you can reduce your risk of coming down with a deeply unpleasant bug.

Common types of food poisoning
How can I avoid getting ill?
What if I become ill on holiday?
More advice and information

Common types of food poisoning
There are many types of food poisoning, each with its own nasty variation. Learn the signs of the most prolific types with their symptoms and sources, so you know what you're dealing with.

Type: Norovirus
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea with blood, fever and vomiting
Duration: Usually lasts for up to 48 hours
Incubation period: Approximately 24 to 48 hours
Source: This is the most common form of infectious gastro-enteritis and can be found in contaminated food and water. It is easily passed from person to person - you can contract it by handling the same object as an infected person.

Type: E Coli 157
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea with blood, nausea and vomiting
Duration: About two to three days
Incubation period: Illness usually appears three to four days after exposure, but it can be as much as nine days
Source: Includes both food and water contamination. With careless food handling, any product eaten raw may be contaminated with raw meat juices

Type: Campylobacter
Symptoms: Include severe diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, severe stomach cramps and vomiting
Duration: From two days to a week
Incubation period: Usually around two to five days
Source: Untreated milk and water, undercooked meat, poultry and shellfish

Type: Salmonella
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea, fever, severe abdominal pains and vomiting
Duration: From four days to three weeks
Incubation period: Usually between 12 to 72 hours
Source: Raw eggs, unpasteurised milk and undercooked poultry and meat

Type: Bacillus cereus
Symptoms: Includes nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
Duration: Usually lasts no longer than 24 to 36 hours
Incubation period: Incubation time is between six and 15 hours after consumption
Source: Contaminated cooked food, dried foods and dairy products

Not strictly food related, Crytosporidiosis is another infection to be aware of. Although a waterborne illness contracted from infected swimming pools, its symptoms are very similar to food poisoning. The best way to avoid it is to steer clear of dirty swimming pools, so if the pool at your destination resort looks dirty, don't use it!

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Avoiding food poisoning while travelling