Epidemiology

Water is a primary pathway for the transmission of numerous infectious diseases, making the intersection of water resource management and public health a critical area of research. Waterborne and water-related diseases – including cholera, typhoid, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), and malaria – remain significant public health challenges in South Africa, particularly in communities with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Understanding the geographic distribution of disease vectors, pathogens, and at-risk populations is essential for informing targeted interventions and protecting both human health and water systems.

The resources below provide access to epidemiological data and tools relevant to water-related disease in South Africa, including spatial atlases, surveillance data, and distribution maps of disease-transmitting organisms.

Data Sources & Links

NICD (National Institute for Communicable Diseases) — surveillance data on waterborne disease outbreaks in South Africa, including cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A

WHO Global Health Observatory — international data on water-related disease burden, useful for benchmarking

DHIS2 South Africa — the national health information system used by the Department of Health, which includes notifiable medical conditions linked to water and sanitation

DWS Blue Drop / No Drop Reports — drinking water and sanitation system performance, directly linked to disease risk

Global Burden of Disease (IHME) — quantified disease burden data filterable by country and cause, including diarrhoeal diseases and vector-borne illnesses

Topic-Specific Resources

Malaria: South African Malaria Indicator Survey data and distribution maps

Cholera: NICD outbreak situation reports, especially relevant given recent outbreaks in South Africa

Schistosomiasis: see link to the bilharzia storymap

Distribution of bilharzia transmitting snails in South Africa: Digital atlas of historical data (click above to access the atlas)