5 reasons to take the "Water-borne infectious diseases" course

Fresh water is essential for humanity, both for nutritional reasons and for hygiene. However, water can be a source of severe infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries, due to microbiological contamination by bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Two good examples of this risk are acute infectious diarrhea in children, which, according to the WHO, is responsible for 1.4 million deaths a year, and cholera, with multiple outbreaks during the last 40 years in Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America. Some 2 billion people have no access to drinking water, 2.3 billion to basic sanitation and 3.8 billion to improved toilets. Even in developed countries, the risk of water contamination is not non-existent, due to shortcomings in water purification systems, as some recent epidemics have reminded us.

Here are 5 important reasons to take this course:

1 - To become aware of the potential infectious risks associated with the consumption or use of water.

Most diseases transmitted by fresh water are due to ingestion of water infested by bacteria, viruses or parasites, but others are due to inhalation or even contact such as legionellosis or schistosomiasis.

2 -  To understand the human, socio-anthropological, regional and organisational factors contributing to water contamination.

Many regions worldwide do not benefit from wastewater plants nor provide people with purified water. In addition, traditions and habits often result in the vicinity toilets and fresh water sources. 
Custom attribute to rivers virtues depending upon the color.

3 - To discover how climate change is exacerbating microbial contamination of water.

On one hand, drought modifies soil contamination. On the other hand, climate catastrophes such as floods are responsible for contamination of fresh-water equipment.

4 - To learn about the main bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases that are transmitted by contaminated water.

Most of them are intestinal infections leading to severe diarrhea. Others may be severe neurological disease, such as poliomyelitis or respiratory disease, such as legionellosis

5 -  To realise that reducing freshwater contamination requires a multi-sectoral approach involving the population, local councillors and politicians, and industry.

It indeed implies the construction of wastewater plants and of a distribution network of purified fresh water. It also necessitates the education of the population which may go against ancestral traditions. In addition, we must learn how to protect fresh-water equipment from floods.

This course is part of the Institut Pasteur's Digital Diploma in Infectious Diseases (DNM2IP).

To find out more, click here.
Institut Pasteur
Course starts: December 2, 2025
Enrolment deadline: December 1st, 2026