>Don't panic for us, Rob. Some of us eat raw and generally enjoy an
intimate
>relationship with the bacteria around us without ill effects. I've been
>eating raw beef all my life.....

Good point. It seems like there could be a definite relationship between
how intimate one has been all their life with the bacteria floating all
around us and how well they can 'handle' it in general.

I've never been all that worried about bacteria, believing exposure to it
*should* improve my immune system, and have had *very few* problems that
I can directly relate to what I would consider 'bacterial poisoning'. It's
entirely possible that folks who have grown up in increasing sterile
environments are, and ever will be, more prone to experiencing bad effects
from exposure.

And, it would also support the notion that while travelling in other
countries it only makes sense to be a little more careful. After all,
the natives grew up around 'their' bacteria, but you did not.