Moctezuma's Revenge

Who was Moctezuma? To most foreigners, Moctezuma is just some Aztec emperor with the dubious distinction of having the diarrhea that tourists in Mexico sometimes get from drinking the local water named after him ("Moctezuma's revenge", aka La Venganza de Moctezuma). When it happens to the unlucky ones, the presence is unmistakable. The technical definition is the passage of at least three unformed stools in a 24-hour period together with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fecal urgency or the passage of blood or mucous. The disease usually lasts 3 to 5 days and is caused by exposure to virus and bacteria to which our bodies are unaccustomed, the principal agent being Escherichia coli (E. coli).

US President Jimmy Carter caused a diplomatic row when he inopportunely mentioned Moctezuma's Revenge upon meeting Mexican President José López Portillo. Although there is the belief that these kinds of attacks only happen to first-world travelers in third-world countries, the reverse also happens to third-world travelers in first-world countries. There, the traveler's diarrhea is known as "The Empire Strikes Back" (El Imperio Contra Ataca). There are different forms of E. coli around the world, and it takes some getting used to before being immunized to specific local strains.

The myth is that Moctezuma's Revenge results from drinking the local water. The reality is that E. Coli can enter through foods such as salads, fruits, juices, ceviches, and so on. But nevertheless the myth persists with the dictum: "Dont drink the water!" Capitalising on the health consciousness, this has led to the growth of the bottled water industry who serve foreigners and locals

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