The f diagram

The movement of pathogens from the faeces of

Barriers can stop the transmission of
a sick person to where they are ingested by W WATER disease; these can be primary
somebody else can take many pathways, some
(preventing the initial contact with the
direct and some indirect. This diagram illustrates
the main pathways. They are easily memorized
S SANITATION faeces) or secondary (preventing it being
ingested by a new person). They can be
as they all begin with the letter f: fluids (drinking
controlled by water, sanitation and
water) food, flies, fields (crops and soil), floors, H HYGIENE hygiene interventions.
fingers and floods (and surface water generally).

Treat, transport and store

the water safely

Protect the
water source W fluids
Separate Wash hands
faeces from S before eating
water sources Wash hands or preparing
after defecation food

H H Store and cook

food carefully

fingers
H
Cover
food
faeces food faces
H
S
S
Wash hands
Separate faeces
from the
flies Control before eating
flies or preparing
environment Wash
H food H hands

S Peel and wash

food

fields

Drainage

floods
Primary barrier Secondary barrier
Note: The diagram is a summary of pathways: other associated routes may be important. Drinking water may
be contaminated by a dirty water container, for example, or food may be infected by dirty cooking utensils.