Emerging issues in water and infectious disease

New diseases, including water-related diseases, periodically "emerge" either because they are newly recognized or because their importance increases. This may be due to the micro-organisms themselves evolving, to changes in the way we manage water resources and supplies; changes in the tools and methods used to study the organisms and the health effects they cause; or due to changes in the human population itself.

WHO, USEPA and other agencies collaborate to address some of these challenges through an initiative on Emerging Issues in Water and Infectious Disease. The initiative leads to development and publication of state-of-the-art reviews based on wide international expert consultation, including:

Reviews published on emerging issues in water and infectious disease include:

• Heterotrophic plate count measurement and drinking water safety
• Information sheet: Pharmaceuticals in drinking-water
  June 2011
• Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis
• Pathogenic mycobacteria in water: A guide to public health consequences, monitoring and management
• Pharmaceuticals in drinking-water
  June 2011
• Questions & answers on potential transmission of avian influenza (H5N1) through water, sanitation and hygiene and ways to reduce the risks to human health
  pdf, 338kb
• Review of latest available evidence on risks to human health through potential transmission of avian influenza (H5N1) through water and sewage
• Safe management of shellfish and harvest waters: minimizing health risks from sewage-contaminated shellfish
• Toxic cyanobacteria in water: public health consequences, monitoring and management
• Waterborne zoonoses: identification, causes and control

Other information that may be of interest

• Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Microbiological agents in drinking-water
• Guidelines for drinking-water quality: chemicals index
• Water-related disease fact sheets