Which disease is most commonly linked to inadequate sanitation?

Cholera is most commonly linked to inadequate sanitation because it is primarily caused by the ingestion of water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which thrives in unsanitary conditions. When sanitation infrastructure is lacking, such as when there are insufficient sewage systems or clean water supplies, the risk of cholera outbreaks increases significantly. Contaminated water sources, often from improper waste disposal or flooding, can quickly lead to the spread of the bacteria, resulting in severe gastrointestinal symptoms and, if untreated, can lead to dehydration and death.

In contrast, while hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and malaria also have connections to sanitation and hygiene, cholera is more directly associated with the failure of proper sanitation measures. Hepatitis A is associated with poor hygiene practices rather than sanitation infrastructure specifically, typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, can be linked to contaminated food and water but also has other transmission routes, and malaria is a vector-borne disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which does not directly relate to sanitation conditions.