The rotavirus is a highly-infectious double stranded RNA virus that serves as one of the most common causes of diarrheal disease in children. The two most common symptoms are severe watery diarrhea and vomiting, both symptoms lasting for 3 to 8 days. Subsequent dehydration of the body causes dryness in the mouth and throat, dizziness, and decreased urination. Infected individuals can transmit the virus through their feces and contract the virus by coming into contact with infected fecal matter; thus, addressing improper hygiene practices that lead to fecal contamination of water sources should be of greatest concern when it comes to rotavirus alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the link between water, sanitation, and health becomes strikingly apparent when examining how children come into contact with infected fecal matter. Unwashed hands contaminated with viral strains of the rotavirus, drinking tainted water sources, or consuming food prepared with unsafe water are the most common transmission pathways.
In a case study conducted in the rural areas of Benin, West Africa, samples from 541 drinking water source points were collected and analyzed using PCR. Almost 3% of the water points tested positive for the rotavirus strain. This may not seem like a significant figure but when taking into account the extremely infectious nature of the virus, it is not a statistic to simply disregard. Although young children are the most susceptible demographic, adults and adolescents can contract the virus as well and inevitably spread it to others. Verheyen & et al. also found that the proximity of latrines or informal alternatives to the water sources was a significant risk-factor in detecting rotavirus strains. Pathogens can reach water sources through surface water or the upper soil horizon depending on the season and rainfall levels.
Image 1: Number of rotavirus deaths in 2013
Image 2: Rate of rotavirus death per 100,000 persons per year
Each year, over 200,000 children under the age of five die due to the rotavirus and these deaths account for 3.4% of all child deaths; sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over 50% of the total child deaths. Countries like Chad, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Angola have significantly higher child mortality rates due to the rotavirus than the rest of sub-Saharan Africa due to vaccine coverage. However, it is important to note that these figures, don’t reflect the total burden of disease from the rotavirus. Chronic episodes of diarrhea can lead to malnutrition, stunting, and wasting and can impair childhood development.
Figure 1: Child death per 100,000 due to the rotavirus in 2016
Unfortunately, due to the highly infectious nature of the virus, guaranteeing safe drinking water is only a small part of the equation. Vaccination for the rotavirus exists, although access to such treatment in rural sub-Saharan Africa is severely limited or completely absent. Despite that, the global agenda for rotavirus mitigation still remains on vaccination coverage. While the public health community works on making the vaccine more accessible and affordable, more needs to be done in securing safe drinking water in rural communities. Clean water will not only improve the burden of disease of the rotavirus, but also of all other water-related diseases.
I really enjoyed this blog post and found your points on safe water insightful! I looked at the issues of safe water also, but focused on water contamination after collection as the water degrades and harbours bacteria in the domestic setting, so a slightly different angle. I'd love for you to take a look at my post and see what you think! https://elizabethswaterblog.blogspot.com/2018/11/test-post-2.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving this a read! Water contamination post-collection is a very important issue when it comes to water and sanitation. I'll definitely be checking out your blog- thanks for the link!
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