Waterborne diseases

Waterborne diseases, according to the World Health Organization, are those which generally arise from the contamination of water by feces or urine, infected by pathogenic viruses or bacteria, and which are directly transmitted when unsafe water is drunk or used in the preparation of food.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Common waterborne diseases

Some data from early 90's indicate that:

Disease and Transmission	Microbial Agent	Sources of Agent in Water Supply	General Symptoms
Amebiasis (hand-to-mouth)	Protozoan (Entamoeba histolytic) (Cyst-like appearance)	Sewage, non-treated drinking water, flies in water supply	Abdominal discomfort, fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, gas pains Fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Cryptosporidiosis (oral)	Protozoan (Cryptosporidium parvum)	Collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected, animal manure, seasonal runoff of water.	Flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea , loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, stomach
Cyclosporiasis	Protozoan parasite (Cyclospora cayetanensis)	Sewage, non-treated drinking water	cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue
Giardiasis (oral-fecal) (hand-to-mouth)	Protozoan (Giardia lamblia) Most common intestinal parasite	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.	Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas and gas pains
Schistosomiasis (immersion)	Schistosoma	Contaminated fresh water with certain types of snails that carry schistosomes	Rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches
taeniasis solium	taenia solium	contaminate fresh water with eggs	intestinal disturbances, neurologic manifestations, loss of weight, cysticercosis