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2015: Rapid Test for Waterborne Diseases
In the developing world, people’s impressions about water quality drive decisions about personal consumption and community infrastructure. Water sources are rarely tested, and traditional tests do not assess the pathogens that cause diarrhea, a health threat that greatly influences consumption decisions. The researchers will develop and pilot a test kit for quick detection of multiple common waterborne pathogens—bacteria, viruses, and protozoa—that cause diarrhea, a leading childhood killer. They will work with communities in Kenya and Honduras to compare actual and perceived water quality for informed decision making and a safer water supply.
Investigators: Ruth Richardson, Monroe Weber-Shirk, Sera Young