Water borne diseases is the general term used to denote diseases associated with poor water supply or quality. In developing world countries four-fifths of all illness is caused by water-borne diseases, with diarrhoea being the leading cause of childhood death. Of the 14 major floods, which occurred globally between 1970 and 1994, floods in West Bengal led to a large cholera epidemic.

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Typhoid or 'enteric fever' is caused by infection with 'salmonella typhi'. In 1907, Mary Mallon (United States cook) became the first American carrier to be identified and traced. She is fondly remembered by the name " Typhoid Mary" for being an immune carrier (no symptoms but capable of infecting others) of typhoid and infecting dozens of people. 

Symptoms are a rapidly fluctuating temperature, drowsiness, diarrhoea, abdominal rash, delirium and coma. Immunization is effective and the disease is treatable with antibiotics.

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Cholera is defined as an acute infectious disease, which is caused by the ingestion of foods or water that has been contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. This disease has over the last century taken a great number of lives, killing millions of people since is emergence in 1800 - Calcutta India. After its first reported outbreak, there have been approximately a total of eight major cholera epidemics worldwide. 

Today our understanding of water borne diseases is better,hence, we have managed to a large extent, to curtail further epidemics. However, whenever there is a calamity like the recent floods in Maharastra and other parts of the country, the danger of another small epidemic resurfacing increases.Learn more on how to keep your water source safe from the Cholera Bacteria. 

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The Dengue fever is an extremely infectious virus, which is carried by the domestic mosquito and spreads from person to person through what may seem like a harmless mosquito bite. The Infection with dengue viruses causes clinical illness ranging from a less dangerous non-specific viral syndrome called 'Dengue fever' to severe and fatal hemorrhagic disease of 'Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF)'. 

Dengue has slowly spread to more then 100 countries. In 2002 more then 2.5 billion people were at risk of infection with this virus. This would roughly work out to 40% of the world population!! 

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Malaria is an infectious disease, which is not new to India or the tropical regions of Asia. It is a disease, which still manages to cause about 500 million infections and 2 million deaths annually worldwide. The danger of malaria is more during the monsoon season due to breeding of mosquitoes and when the water starts receeding but some of it remains stagnated. The problem is worst in cities with poor drainage systems. Find out how you can prevent yourself from malaria. Read more.

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