Water-borne Diseases (WBD): Diseases which arise from the contamination of water by human or animal faeces or urine infected by pathogenic viruses or bacteria, and which is directly transmitted when the water is drunk or used in the preparation of food. 

1. Amebiasis - a protozoan (cyst-like appearance); found in sewage, non-treated drinking water, flies in water supply; the symptoms are as follows: abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, gas pains, fever
2. Campylobacteriosis - found in non-treated water, sewer, poor hygiene, crowded living conditions with inadequate sewage facilities; symptoms are as follows: water diarrhea, vomiting, occasional muscle cramps
3. Cholera - a bacterium; found in non-treated water, sewage, poor hygiene, crowded living conditions with inadequate sewage facilities; symptoms are as follows: diarrhea, abdominal discomfort
4. Cryptosporidiosis - a protozoan; collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected, animal manure, seasonal runoff of water; symptoms are as follows: flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea , loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, stomach
5. Cyclosporiasis - a protozoan parasite; found in sewage, non-treated drinking water; symptoms are as follows: cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue
6. Giardiasis  - a common protozoan parasite; found in untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks, leaks, groundwater contamination, campgrounds where humans and wildlife use same source of water. Beavers and muskrats act as a reservoir for Giardia; symptoms are as follows: diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas and gas pains
7. Hepatitis A  - virus; found in raw sewage, untreated drinking water, poor hygiene, ingestion of shellfish from sewage-flooded beds; symptoms are as follows: fever, chills, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, urine dark
8. Salmonellosis - a bacterium; found in contaminated water, shellfish, turtles, fish; symptoms are as follows: gastroenteritis, fever and rapid blood-poisoning.
9. Shigellosis - a bacterium; found in sludge, untreated wastewater, groundwater contamination, poorly disinfected drinking water; symptoms are as follows: fever, diarrhea, bloody stools
10. Schistosomiasis - a schistosoma; found in contaminated fresh water with certain types of snails that carry schistosomes; symptoms are as follows: rash or itchy skin. fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches
11. Typhoid fever - a bacterium; found in raw sewage (carried and excreted in feces by humans), water supplies with surface water source; symptoms are as follows: fever, headache, constipation, appetite loss, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal rash
12. Viral gastroenteritis  - a virus; found in sewage, contaminated water, inadequately disinfected drinking water (mostly surface water sources); symptoms are as follows: repeated vomiting and diarrhea over 24-hour period, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, fever.

THE WAY TO PREVENT ANY OF THESE WATER-BORNE ILLNESSES FROM RUINING YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRIP IS TO USE A PORTABLE FILTRATION DEVICE DESIGNED FOR FILTERING BACTERIA, CYSTS, AND PROTOZOA! DON’T LEARN THE HARD WAY! PREPARE FOR THE WORST! WATER FILTERS CAN LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 9:04 am and is filed under Drinking Water, Portable Water Filtration, water filters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.