India's burden of waterborne diseases is underestimated

Major efforts to improve access to drinking water across India have not been matched by proportionate declines in deaths and illnesses from waterborne diseases, which remain grossly underestimated, a new government report has said.

Today 85% of India's population is covered by water infrastructure, said the report, from India's planning commission, a top policy making body.

Between 400 000 and 500 000 children aged under five years die each year from diarrhoea, the report said, citing a failure to improve personal and home hygiene as a factor.

The report also cautioned that failure in epidemiological surveillance is leading public health authorities to record only a...