Disease hazards of irrigation schemes

Abstract

The construction of river dams in north-east Thailand led to better navigational conditions, the generation of adequate amounts of electricity, improved water supplied for domestic and agricultural use, the expansion of fishing, and higher incomes. However, people in the area, particularly those where irrigation schemes were established, suffered increasing incidences of parasitic diseases, most notably opisthorchiasis. By involving the communities directly in a control programme it has proved possible to diminish this drawback to a significant extent.