Epidemiological survey

Boelee, Eline; Laamrani, Hammou. 2009. Epidemiological survey. In Andreini, Marc; Schuetz, Tonya; Harrington, Larry (Eds.). Small reservoirs toolkit, theme 3: ecosystems and health. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF); Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Brasilia, DF, Brasil: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Cerrados Center); Harare, Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe (UZ); Accra, Ghana: Ghana Water Research Institution (WRI); Delft, The Netherlands: Delft University of Technology (TUD); Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI); Marseille, France: Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD); Bonn, Germany: Center for Development Research, University of Bonn; Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell University. 9p.

This tool uses standard biomedical methodologies to determine infection rates for key water-related (or “reservoir-related”) diseases including schistosomiasis and other intestinal parasites, and malaria. In any particular locale there may be a completely different set of priorities with regard to reservoir-related health issues. Therefore, it is always wise to check with local health personnel about priorities, and to sample local communities’ perceptions with respect to reservoir-related problems. For diseases and infections not described in this tool, local health professionals, literature, and the internet provide good starting points.