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Water-borne Water-borne DiseasesDiseases

Water-borne Water-borne DiseasesDiseases

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WATER H2O• Our Earth is unique among the

other known planets. • It has water, which covers three-

fourths of its surface.• Water regenerates and is

redistributed through evaporation, making it seem endlessly renewable.

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• Actually, only 1% of the world's water is usable to us.

• About 97% is salty sea water, and 2% is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.

• Thus that 1% of the world's water supply is a precious commodity necessary for our survival.

• Dehydration (lack of water) will kill us faster than starvation (lack of food).

• Since the plants and animals we eat also depend on water, lack of it could cause both dehydration and starvation.

• Water that looks drinkable can contain harmful elements, which could cause illness and death if ingested.

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Diseases Related to Water

Water-borne Diseases

Water-based Diseases

Water-washed Diseases

Water-related Diseases

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Water-borne DiseasesDiseases caused by ingestion of

water contaminated by human or animal excrement, which contain pathogenic microorganisms.

Include cholera, typhoid, amoebic and bacillary dysentery and other diarrheal diseases

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Diarrheal Diseases• Campylobacteriosis (Bacteria)• Shigellosis (Bacteria)• Viral Gastroenteritis (Virus)• Cyclosporiasis (Parasite)

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In addition, water-borne disease can be caused by the pollution of water with chemicals that have an adverse effect on

health

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• Arsenic• Flouride• Nitrates from fertilizers• Carcinogenic pesticides (DDT)• Lead (from pipes)• Heavy Metals

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Water-washed Diseases

Diseases caused by poor personal hygiene and skin and eye contact

with contaminated waterThese include scabies, trachoma,

typhus, and other flea, lice and tick-borne diseases.

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Water-based Diseases• Diseases caused by parasites

found in intermediate organisms living in contaminated water.

• Includes Schistosomiasis and Dracunculiasis

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Water-related DiseasesWater-related diseases are caused by

insect vectors, especially mosquitoes, that breed or feed near

contaminated water. • They are not typically associated

with lack of access to clean drinking water or sanitation services

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• Include dengue, filariasis, malaria, onchocerciasis, trypanosomiasis and yellow fever

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Other Water-borne diseases

• Bathing• Swimming• Other recreational activities that

have water contact• Agriculture• Aquaculture

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The Problem• ~80% of infectious diseases • > 5 million people die each year • > 2 million die from water-related

diarrhea alone • Most of those dying are small

children

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Other Consequences• Lost work days• Missed educational opportunities• Official and unofficial healthcare

costs• Draining of family resources

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Water Quality & Child Survival

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Control & Prevention• Global

Governments• Communities

Individuals

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Education Issues• Hygiene education• Good nutrition• Improvements in habitation and

general sanitation• Higher education training in water-

related issues

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Global Surveillance• Public health infrastucture• Standardized surveillance of

water-borne disease outbreaks• Guidelines must be established for

investigating and reporting water-borne diseases

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Communication and the Media

• Impacts at all levels• Very powerful, when others fail

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General Guidelines• Avoid contacting soil that may be

contaminated with human feces. • Do not defecate outdoors. • Dispose of diapers properly.

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• Wash hands with soap and water before handling food.

• When traveling to countries where sanitation and hygiene are poor, avoid water or food that may be contaminated.

• Wash, peel or cook all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.

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A Simple Rule of Thumb

• Boil it, • cook it, • peel it, • or forget it

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The FutureEven if by the year 2015 the proportion of people who are

unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water is halved, between 34 and 76 million people, mostly

children, will die from preventable water-borne diseases

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More Challenges• Developed countries and chlorine-

resistant microbes• Climate Changes• Economic barriers for developing

countries to sanitize large amounts of water

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The Answer• Unmet human needs for water• Education• Commitment to the elimination of

specific diseases• Research

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Climate Change• Water scarcity compromises hygiene• Reduced water pressure increases

risk of back siphoning of contaminated water

• Floods causing breaching of barriers between sewage and water systems

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• Warming/cooling changes distribution of pathogens and vectors

• Increased UV exposure resulting in increased susceptability to disease

• Increased mutation rates with unpredictable effects on ecosystems (pathogen development)