WASH-related pathogens

These background documents summarize the state of science on key pathogens that are relevant for sanitation and drinking-water systems. Pathogens included in this list may be relevant to both sanitation and drinking-water systems, or they may be exclusively relevant for sanitation systems or for drinking-water systems. Background documents have also been prepared to cover pathogens for which queries were received regarding their transmissibility in drinking-water, even though these are not waterborne.

The background documents include a general description of the pathogen, and summarize information on human health effects, epidemiology, transmission, faecal pollution sources, and occurrence in the environment including in the water cycle. They also summarize information on analysis, prevention, and management in drinking-water and/or sanitation systems and significance of these systems in spreading disease attributed to these pathogens.

The background documents are supporting information for the Guidelines on Sanitation and Health (Chapter 6, Table 6.1) and/or the Guidelines for drinking-water quality (Chapters 7 and 11). Table 7.1 (pathogens transmitted through drinking-water), Table 7.2 (microorganisms for which transmission through drinking-water has been suggested but for which evidence is weak or lacking) and the microbial fact sheets in Chapter 11 of the Guidelines for drinking-water quality will be updated based on key information in the background documents.

To view the microbial background documents, click on the corresponding pathogen under the relevant pathogen class.