Is it true that most people who go to Dominican Republic get food poisoning or another stomach bug?

Question

My mom refuses to take me to DR because she's heard stories about people getting ill. My aunt has a house out there and I really want to go.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

My husband and I went there for our honeymoon 4 years ago. Don't drink the water and bring along some immodium a.d. and you'll be fine. We did have a tummy ache one night while we were there but nothing too bad and nothing a dose of immodium couldn't fix.

Answer 2

well i know that some of my relatives came back very sick from going to cuba and places near there so i guess it looks to be true that you can have some serious health issues .

it's true ,

Source(s):

spider man

Answer 3

So long as you don't drink the tap water and avoid street food you shouldn't worry about intestinal problems. There is a lot of HIV and hepatitis B but this isn't a problem if you don't need blood transfusions or practice unsafe sex. Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes but this is mostly a benign disease. I don't think it would be dangerous to go so long as you practice common sense measures.

Source(s):

Lived there

Answer 4

"Most"? Probably not. But you don't drink tap water, brush your teeth with it, eat food washed with it, etc., or eat "street food". You also make sure you have anti-diarrhea med with you, just in case.

If your aunt lives there, she would know how to avoid stomach bugs.

Answer 5

I lived there for nine months and never had any stomach issues. There have been a lot of food poisoning problems at the all inclusive resorts because they do buffets and often do not use proper food handling or hygene. In the tropics your motto should be fried foods are safe foods. Use common sense and you should be fine. Don't drink or brush your teeth with the tap water and don't eat foods that have been washed with the tap water. Ice is safe since it is always bought in bags. Boiled water is usually safe but some people will use bottled water for cooking as well. Bottled water is available everywhere for about 50 cents a small bottle or a few dollars for a 5 gallon jug. Before you eat in a restaurant check it out for sanitation. I have seen places as clean as in the US and places that would be shut down immediately. The worst I saw was a chicken place where they were slaughtering the chickens behind the kitchen and there was blood and flies everywhere. However in tourist areas you can find restaurants that are very nice and clean with European chef owners.. I've had beef Carpacio (raw paper thin slices of filet minon) with no ill effects. Most beef is imported from the US and inspected. Avoid rice that has been left out to avoid something called Bacillus Ceres or Fried Rice Syndrome.

I would think your aunt would know if she has a house there. If someone gets sick at a restaurant the word spreads fast among the foreigners very quickly.

Answer 6

I've been to DR twice in the last year and have never gotten sick.

Answer 7

I've been to dr and i never got sick. You can get sick in every country.

Answer 8

Well, ive been in Puerto Plata 4 times and only once i got sick, and that was from a Lobster Sauce that i ate in Saona Island, i was sick for 2 days, but i had all i needed and got better .

Answer 9

It is possible to become ill in all countries - not every restaurant will be clean and perfect, as i'm sure you know. However, I have been to the Dominican Republic various times, staying in all inclusive resorts, and I've eaten out. I have never gotten ill whilst out there.

I didn't drink/or brush my teeth using their tap water either though. I also only ate at places recommended to me. I personally think this is a silly reason not to visit though - its such a beautiful place and if anything the food has been fantastic every time I have visited!!

Answer 10

The only thing that you have to always remember is to not drink the tap water. Some people also get stomach sick, not because of a stomach bug, It's just that dominican cook with a lot of seasoning so if that's something you're not used to then it can make you feel a little sick. Nothing that some pepto bismol can't take care of.

Source(s):

I am Dominican.

Answer 11

Are you kidding me? You can get a stomach bug anywhere. Just buy Planeta Azul brand water and watch out for shady food stands on the street. You'll be fine. I lived there for 9 years and never got a stomach bug.

Answer 12

I haven't taken a survey to say MOST people that visit DR get food poisoning or other stomach bugs or not. I went to the DR a couple months ago with a large number of my family (including a 13month old toddler) and NONE of us got sick. I brushed my teeth and washed my son's bottles with the tap water. We all at at the breakfast buffet every morning (ate fruits, vegetables, cheese & juices/smoothies) and still did not get sick. I have traveled to lots of places in the Caribbean have never gotten sick.

Just take some Immodium just incase you may need it.

Answer 13

no its not true i been to two differnt resorts and never got sick

Answer 14

as any country u visit u have to take care

Answer 15

if you are going to visit a relative, you might get sick because your body is not immune to things that are there. If you are going to a resort, you can eat anything, even the water.