This book focuses on waterborne pathogens and significant diseases occurring along major rivers around the globe, including key examples like the Amazonas, Mekong River and Nile. Written by leading international experts, it offers unique insights into local riverine infection risks in times of global warming, and addressing these through advances in diagnosis, health management and the development of simple but effective control measures. It also sheds light on why former societies collapsed due to transmitted diseases during periods of climate change, droughts and floods, to help establish effective preventive measures for the future.

The book appeals to a wide readership, from scientists in the field of parasitology, infectious diseases and epidemiology, to healthcare managers and general readers with an interest in pathogen spread along the largest rivers on earth. It particularly highlights past and current control mechanisms in times of global warming and assessespotential future health hazards.

Chapter 1: Important rivers and their worldwide contributions to epidemics on earth

Chapter 2: Conquering the God of Plague in China: a tale of over 60 years
Chapter 3: Cholera (Blue skin disease) and its history
Chapter 4: Spreading of cholera along rivers in early times of the USA before detection of the agents of disease
Chapter 5: Human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) or swimmer's itch along rivers and lakes
Chapter 6: Blood sucking leeches - not only nasty but also dangerous and helpful
Chapter 7: Important foodbornetrematodiases in Lower Mekong River Basin
Chapter 8: Important protozoan diseases in Lower Mekong River Basin
Chapter 9: Free-living amoebae and associated drug resistant bacteria in surface waters-A public health concern?
Chapter 10. Nile River, Impact on Human Health in Egypt from Pharaohs until now
Chapter 11: Epidemic status of schistosomiasis control in Guangdong province. Chapter 12: Konna - a help for a self-help project atthe Niger River in Mali
Chapter 13: Leishmaniasis in Israel and Palestinian territories
Chapter 14: Past and present of tropical diseases in the Amazon river
Chapter 15: Brazil's big river projects and their impact on the occurrence of tropical diseases
Chapter 16: The major rivers and the genesis of the recent area of ticks Ixodes persulcatus in Western Siberia
Chapter 17: The Main River and Main-Danube Canal - a hub for Ponto-Caspian parasite invasion
Chapter 18: "Father Rhine" - from the Alps to the North Sea
Chapter 19: The River Rhine as hotspot of parasite invasions
Chapter 20: Free-living amoebae in rivers and ponds and their multiple role in environmental health.