Follow hygienic practices to keep away water-borne diseases
Safe drinking water is vital for good health. Water used for drinking and cooking needs to be free from chemicals and harmful germs, which may lead to water-borne diseases. The information was shared by director of School of Public Health and Zoonoses, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, JPS Gill.
Safe drinking water is vital for good health. Water used for drinking and cooking needs to be free from chemicals and harmful germs, which may lead to water-borne diseases. The information was shared by director of School of Public Health and Zoonoses, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, JPS Gill.
He revealed that water-borne disease could be parasitic, bacterial and viral, many of which are intestinal pathogens. Many water-borne diseases such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, hepatitis A and E viral infections (jaundice), leptospirosis, typhoid, cholera and food poisonings could occur due to drinking of contaminated water in the rainy season.
"Infection commonly results when contaminated water is used," he said, adding that according to the World Health Organisation, diarrheal diseases account for an estimated 4.2% of the total daily global burden of disease and was responsible for death of about 20 lakh people every year.
It was estimated that 88% of that burden was attributable to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene, and was mostly concentrated in developing countries.
The experts from the School of Public Health and Zoonoses have advised the public to be aware of the water-borne diseases in the rainy season. During this season, blockage and overflow of sewage pipes is a major source of water contamination.
Further, the resulting stagnant waters act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading to increased risks of mosquito transmitted diseases such as dengue, malaria etc.