ABSTRACT
The potential rise in waterborne disease outbreaks may be due to increasing susceptible populations, political upheaval and high numbers of refugees in developing countries. Natural disasters such as flooding and droughts due to climatic changes may also be affecting global water quality. There are several hundred enteric viruses that are potentially important agents of waterborne disease. The viruses most frequently associated with waterborne outbreaks are hepatitis, Norwalk, Coxsackie, rotavirus and the echoviruses. Hepatitis E virus has caused devastating waterborne disease outbreaks. Improved water supply protection, wastewater and drinking water treatment using a multiple barrier approach and adequate protection of distribution systems will be needed to reduce the risk of infectious waterborne disease. In the 1990s the list of pathogenic waterborne microorganisms has grown exponentially. The potential rise in waterborne disease outbreaks may be due to increasing susceptible populations, political upheaval and high numbers of refugees in developing countries.
