Question map
Which one among the following water-borne diseases is not caused by a bacteria?
Explanation
Water-borne diseases are caused by various microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Cholera is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Typhoid fever is also bacterial, caused by Salmonella typhi [1]. Bacillary dysentery, specifically mentioned as dysentery caused by Shigella species, is a bacterial infection [1]. In contrast, Hepatitis A is a viral infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (a picornavirus) [1]. While all four diseases are transmitted through the fecal-oral route via contaminated water or food, Hepatitis A is the only one in the list that is not caused by a bacterium [1]. It primarily affects the liver, leading to symptoms like jaundice and fatigue, whereas the bacterial options primarily target the gastrointestinal tract [1].
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Activity 3.4: Let us find out > p. 34