Amebiasis is a disease caused by an infection by a microorganism called Entamoeba histolytica. Thriving in warm areas such as the Philippines, E. histolytica can infect people who eat food or drink water that has been handled poorly and contaminated with the microorganism. Diarrhea and abdominal pains are symptoms of amebiasis, and the disease can progress to causing abscesses in the liver. If untreated, the infection can even result in death. According to estimates, the disease kills up to 70,000 people annually.