Benefit of Water Supply and Latrine Improvement in Control of Intestinal Infectious Diseases in Rural Areas of China / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

The research progress in water supply and latrine improvement as well as its effects on controlling intestinal infectious diseases in rural areas of China were reviewed in the present paper. It showed that China had significant gains in rural water supply and sanitary latrines over the past two decades. By the end of 2005, 94.06% of the rural population had benefited from the improved water supply, 61.32% of the rural residents were supplied with the running water and 55.31% used the sanitary latrines. As a result, the occurrence of the intestinal infectious diseases had significantly declined. To develop a perfect disease control system in the rural areas in China, the role of government will be important and critical.