Health in Mexico
 

Are Mexican resorts still known for "La turista"? We haven't been in Mexico (other than Baja) since we were in Puerto Vallarta in 1981. On that trip, all 6 of us were really affected, including for a week after we got home. I've been skittish about returning to Mexico ever since.

Fast forward, and there's a possibility we might want to visit Cancun or Riviera Maya this spring. Should I be concerned? Are some places better than others?

I very rarely have any issue with food in Puerto Vallarta and I vacation there once or twice a year and have since the early 90's.

I do use a bit more awareness, caution and 'common sense' than I need to at home in Seattle.

It is fair to say that the tourist infrastructure in the various resort areas has come a LONG way since the early 80's. That is certain.

(I don't know specifically about the "other side" I have no personal experience with Cancun or the Mayan Riviera.)

I've only stayed at an AI (if that is what you mean by "resort") once, in Akumal in 2009. Normally I stay in non AI hotels and condos although the kitchen seldom gets used :)
All of the fruits and vegatables get washed in a solution called Microdyn, ice is made with purified water and bottled water is available everywhere, even the smallest tiendas. Some people start taking probiotics a week or two before their trip and during. I personally have never had a problem, although some folks just have sensitive stomachs that are affected by unfamiliar bacteria.
I would be more worried about picking up something at an AI buffet since so many people use the serving utensils and who knows if they washed their hands or used sanitizer first.

I've been to most parts of Mx and have never had any issues.
Just a few things to think about;
Some of the small villages on the Yucatan don't have great plumbing so I'd watch eating foods in remote places unless you see lots of locals eating there. The locals will ditch any place where people have gotten sick.
Also following the locals lead, I don't eat things like cerviche on the hottest days.
That said, despite modern plumbing most places do use bottled water. My city makes claims that the water is potable but I still have an osmosis and ultra violet purification system. I had the same in the US as my town would sometimes forget to tell people that there were issues with the water.
Lastly, 15 Margaritas and a few fried bean burritos with a side of flaming hot sauce may send most of us trotting if we're not used to it. Don't forget to wash your hands with real soap and lots of running water.
Enjoy!

With a few precautions, you will be fine. I know some of this has been said already - but I will repeat :)

Water - You want to use filtered water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Some resorts have filtered water in the taps, some don't, so ask. Smaller hotels probably won't have filtered water at the tap, but everywhere (hotels and restaurants) has big jugs of drinking water - standard Alhambra water jugs that get delivered.

Ice - Ice is all made off-site from filtered water and delivered - its that cylindrical ice with the hole in the middle. Everybody gets ice delivered.

Fresh produce - Restaurants will wash their produce in a solution with microdyne in it. If you stay in a condo and buy your own stuff, get a bottle of microdyne to wash your produce.

Food carts - I eat from food carts, but only busy ones - I figure that if things don't sit around, its likely to be fine.

Buffets - I generally avoid them (don't usually stay in AIs) and go for freshly-prepared food instead. There's a general risk associated with eating food that's been sitting out in a hot climate and serving yourself from utensils that a bunch of people have handled. Lots of people do not wash their hands before going to the buffet. If I do eat at a buffet, I will choose wisely and use hand sanitizer.

I've been sick 3 times in Mexico. Once I over did it, so my fault. Once I ate at a loncheria that wasn't busy and ordered something that didn't have to be freshly cooked, so that was a bad choice on my part. And once is a mystery.

My wife & I this Xmas eve had a $152 plus tip dinner at the best Italian restaurant in the San Francisco East Bay.
All was delicious from Appetizer to dessert & in between.
I awoke during the night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. My younger wife had no problems eating the same food
My point being at my age super rich food is more than my system can handle under the best of conditions.
I find in Mexico the same being true. That in fact the richer higher end food is more of a danger for me. I have been ill after eating 4 times over the last 3 years in Mexico after dining in higher end cafes & over indulging in food.I do not drink alcohol so it is never a factor
So for me sensible eating is the secret whether in Mexico or the US.

I have been sick three times from food in Mexico, but that's in at least 30 trips. There was nothing not "sensible" the times when I got sick.

Have you checked the CDC web-site? There's a lot of useful info there....

I have never, ever been sick in Mexico and we spend our winters in the Mayan Riviera area.... a little common sense does go a long way.

The water company in Puerto Vallarta, SEAPAL, has passed International Standards for over 20 years. I have been drinking the tap water for over 15 years with problems. PV is only one of two cities in Mexico that can boast this.
Too many people blame the water, when they should blame their dehydration and excessive alcohol intake. Also different food to what they are used to eating.
Beware those All Inclusive buffet tables, multiple people touching and serving themselves from trays of food kept at a nice breeding ground temperature for microbes.

The times I suffered a brief bout of "turista" it was from a restaurant meal (not a resorts buffet, no lack of common sense involved).

" a little common sense does go a long way."

The thing about that recommendation is that a person has to know what that "common" sense is. What is "common" in some situations isn't "common" in others. Hence sf's question :)

Sf, how were you affected?

You can get sick anywhere especially when you travel and arent used to the water, food, etc in a foreign country.

I would be careful about drinking water in Mexico or eating raw veggies washed in water.

Personally I have never gotten sick in Mexico. But both DH and I got deathly ill in France one year from food poisioning. So it can and does happen anywhere.

My mother was once deathly ill in Italy. But let's face it - Mexico has a reputation for it, whether it's "current" or not is the question. How were we affected? Terrible cramps and diahhrea that lasted quite awhile, probably 6-7 days. I had heard it wasn't as big an issue at the Caribbean resorts as it used to be on the West Coast.

nanabee, It was the 1980's. They all got a bad case of "turista".

I think whether it is "current" depends on exactly where you are asking about. I have not had issues in PV for many years now.

To get back to the OP's question, I repeat my recommendation to consult the CDC website, which actually addresses these issues:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destina...er/none/mexico

I would also recommend consulting your physician, or a travel medicine specialist, who can prescribe an antibiotic that you can take if you see signs of travelers' diarrhea -- something that will work quickly.

It is, IME, easy enough to follow the core recommended guidelines -- things likely drinking only bottled or boiled water (and that includes only bottled water for brushing teeth, cleaning contacts, etc.); no ice; no "fresh" vegetables unless you wash them yourself using bottled water...

Will that guarantee you good health? Of course not! But it should give you a good chance, and the back-up prescription of an appropriate strong and fast-acting antibiotic should help.

And consider following the rest of the CDC advice, too -- for sunscreen, protection from insects, etc.

Consulting a source like the CDC not only gives you accurate, fact-based information, it also protects you against the interpersonal vitriol that rarely, but sometimes, creeps onto Fodor's.

Good luck!

Some of this stuff cracks me up. Taken from the CDC site;
<<”Do not eat Bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game)>>

Shame - I was so looking forward to monkey meat. lol
I sometimes think that people mistakenly believe that Mx is a third world country. It's a wonder that people even leave their homes with some of the information that one finds online.
I know that the CDC and other orgs do good work but sometimes...

CDC is a Joke !

Sheezus louisus, the answer to this question is easy.

These folks are (possibly) headed to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera fergoodnesssake! Might someone manage to get sick on food there? Yes it is possible. Likely the entire party will get turista so bad like happened in the 80's in PV, unlikely.