title: Water disinfection for international and wilderness travelers.
abstract: Acquisition of waterborne disease is a substantial risk for international travelers to countries with inadequate sanitation facilities. It also poses smaller but still significant risks for wilderness travelers who rely on surface water in developed countries with low rates of diarrheal illness, such as the United States. This article reviews the etiology and risks associated with waterborne disease that might be encountered by both types of travelers. It also summarizes--and makes recommendations for--the various water-treatment methods available to travelers for reducing their risk of contracting waterborne disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA. hbacker@dhs.ca.gov
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Backer
mesh_terms: D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005374:Filtration; D006219:Halogens; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D010087:Oxides; D010126:Ozone; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D012834:Silver; D014195:Travel; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014481:United States; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D000534:Alum Compounds; D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D006219:Halogens; D010087:Oxides; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D012834:Silver; D010126:Ozone; C025109:chlorine dioxide