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Waterborne Infectious Diseases, Approaches to Control

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Abstract

Waterborne diseases represent a significant and substantial burden on human health that disproportionately affects those living in the developing world. Human populations are attracted to live near surface water, particularly in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where it may represent a scarce resource. The development of water resources to exploit their potential has undoubtedly been of great benefit to some human populations via, for example, an increase in the amount of land suitable for agriculture provided by irrigation schemes, or the provision of hydroelectric power following the construction of dams and reservoirs.

This chapter, which has been modified slightly for the purposes of this volume, was originally published as part of the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology edited by Robert A. Meyers. DOI:10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3

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Abbreviations

Neglected tropical diseases:

A group of poverty-promoting and disfiguring diseases disproportionately affecting the poorest populations in developing countries. They are termed neglected because they lack the visibility, research support, and funding of other, more high profile, infections, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Several can be treated with inexpensive, effective treatment, while for others new drugs are needed.

Waterborne infectious diseases:

Those diseases that rely on, or are heavily associated with, water for at least one stage of their life cycle or transmission, or affect populations closely related to areas of water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, St. Mary’s Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK

    Alan Fenwick & Michael French

  2. Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

    Albis Francesco Gabrielli & Lorenzo Savioli

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  1. Alan Fenwick
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  2. Albis Francesco Gabrielli
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  3. Michael French
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  4. Lorenzo Savioli
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Correspondence to Alan Fenwick .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Immunology and Infectious, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue 651, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Phyllis Kanki

  2. , Department of Coastal Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, East Beach Drive 703, Ocean Springs, 39564, Mississippi, USA

    Darrell Jay Grimes

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Fenwick, A., Gabrielli, A.F., French, M., Savioli, L. (2013). Waterborne Infectious Diseases, Approaches to Control. In: Kanki, P., Grimes, D. (eds) Infectious Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5719-0_14

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