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Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Drinking Water Sources in Pakistan: A Recent Perspective

Abstract

Waterborne pathogens cause a serious threat to the overall health of people and the prosperity of a country. Pakistan has limited resources to sustain its increasing population. Because of socioeconomic factors, people tend to compromise on health safety standards. In Pakistan, waterborne diseases occur throughout the year, although the frequency usually increases after the monsoon season because rains provide a suitable environment for the growth of microorganisms that are causative agents of waterborne diseases. Contamination of drinking water with sewage, water flooding, and heavy rainfall are some important factors that can lead to waterborne diseases. Waterborne hepatitis, cholera, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and typhoid are important diseases linked with water. Our article provides a recent overview of the frequency of waterborne pathogens in Pakistani water sources, outbreaks, and infections. The improper disposal of wastewater at the household and city levels increases the likelihood of these aforementioned diseases. Thus, there is a need to trace the origins of outbreaks in the Disease Early Warning System of Pakistan. Improvements in the treatment and filtration of drinking water, along with the awareness campaigns of vaccinations for common waterborne pathogens, are crucial for controlling these diseases in the country.

Publication: Journal of Environmental Health
Volume: 86
Number: 4
Pages: 24-32
Published: November 2023

Authors

  • Aiman Shahzadi, MPhil, DVM, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Adnan Ashraf, DVM, PhD, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Bahar E. Mustafa, MPhil, DVM, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Sub Campus Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan
  • Zian Asif, MPhil, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Furqan Awan, DVM, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shahan Azeem, DVM, PhD, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

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