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Giardia is a microscopic parasite that lives on the surface of soil, water, or food that had been contaminated with feces. Drinking and recreational (i.e. public pools) water is the most common way to spread the disease. This disease is an intestinal disease that is parasitic and transmitted.

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Giardia prompts excessive diarrhea and gestational issues.

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Giardia is transmitted through soil, water, or food that has been contaminated with feces, so in order to contract this disease, one must have come in contact with contaminated substances. It could also be contracted by having contact with others who have the disease and simple things like bathroom handles as long as they contain fecal matter.

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What is the transmission rate of Giardia?

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What is the transmission rate of Giardia?

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Giardiasis is not very common, so this disease should not become widespread in the United States. It can be spread person to person or person to animal. Oral and anal contact during sex can also be cause for disease transmission. Those who are most likely to contract the disease are those who travel to places where Giardia is common, those who work in childcare facilities, those who drink contaminated water, those who are in close contact with people who have the disease, hikers, backpackers, or campers who drink river water, people who have contact with diseased animals, and men who have penetrative sex with men.

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https://online.epocrates.com/diseases/35351/Giardiasis/Prognosis
This source discusses further information about the prognosis and monitering Giardia.

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Where would there be an outbreak of this disease?

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Where would there be an outbreak of this disease?

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Most likely, developing countries would experience this disease, but most symptoms disappear pretty quickly.

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https://www.hhmi.org/news/new-research-reveals-how-giardia-parasite-changes-its-appearance
This site gives information about the defense system of Giardia.

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What is the current state of research for Giardia?

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What is the current state of research for Giardia?

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Scientists have in the past decade figured out how the parasite hides from the immune system and passes through the immune system undetected. Therefore, the defense and attack systems are now known and identified, so it truly it seems that scientists are monitoring rather than discovering much more about the parasite.

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This disease is most common in developing countries and is the most common intestinal parasitic disease effecting humans in the United States.

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Several drugs are successful in treating Giardiasis including metronidazole, tinidazole, and nitazoxanide. Alternatives to this are paromycin, quinacrine, and furazolidone and some of these drugs may not be routinely found in the United States.

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https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/infection-sources.html
This is a very helpful and easy to navigate site with frequently asked questions and just about anything one would like to know about the disease.

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It infects almost 2% of adults and 6-8% of children.

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What is the prognosis for diseased individuals?

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What is the prognosis for diseased individuals?

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Less than 4% of people still have symptoms after two weeks of contracting this disease.

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Some may show no symptoms, but the largest symptom associated with the parasite is diarrhea. Other symptoms include gas, greasy stools that float in water, cramping in the abdomen or stomach, upset stomach, vomiting, nausea, and dehydration. Less common symptoms are itchy skin, hives, and eye and joint swelling.