The Risk of Waterborne Enteric Viral Infection in Africa as Revealed Through Quantitative Microbial Exposure Analysis

This study investigates the prevalence and sources of waterborne enteric viral infections in Africa, where poor access to safe water and sanitation facilities poses significant public health risks. The waterborne enteric virus has proven to be a biological hazard and contaminant in potable water, natural water, and wastewater systems. Thus, this research employs quantitative microbial exposure analysis (QMEA) to determine the likelihood of infection and identify the sources of viral contamination in water sources. This study found 105 articles, 12 reported 292 positive cases, and 1187 comprehensively reviewed and analyzed datasets. The analyzed articles were from six African countries: Morocco, Egypt, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. In all articles considered, the probability of infection and risk of illness of those who were subjected to the river and dam water via drinking, recreational, domestic, or irrigation activities were too high and exceeded the acceptable risk of 0.01% (10-4 infection/individual/year) proposed by WHO. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) with 13-30% mortality rates and Human adenovirus (HAdV) dominates the surface water in African countries. This study underscores the need for better water and sanitation facilities to mitigate the risk of waterborne viral infections and promote public health in Africa. Therefore, by highlighting the risks of waterborne enteric viral infections, the study calls for more targeted interventions to prevent the spread of these infections and improve health outcomes in African communities.