Current burdens of faecally derived pathogens entering the environment through untreated human and animal faeces can lead to disease, through direct handling and through contamination of water supplies used for drinking and washing. Anaerobic digestion for biogas generation in rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to reduce pathogen loadings to the environment through treatment of livestock manures and effluent from pit latrines. However, there are limited data available for its efficacy in Sub-Saharan Africa. We review evidence from around the world and consider its application to the Sub-Saharan African situation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.