![]() ![]() Wastewater surveillance at the local level While WGS cannot confirm the presence of any one specific variant in wastewater-because the virus’s RNA breaks into pieces in wastewater-WGS of wastewater samples can detect pieces of variant-defining mutations, which can provide strong early evidence that a variant is likely present or may be spreading in the community before clinical case detection.įor example, a January 2022 MMWR article reports there was evidence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant mutations in community wastewater in late November 2021, shortly before the Omicron variant had been identified in cases in these communities. The sequencing of wastewater samples can provide valuable information about SARS-CoV-2 variants. Genomic sequencing supports public health in multiple areas, such as improving food safety, combating antimicrobial resistance, and detecting emerging infectious disease threats. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology is used to decode the genetic information of infectious disease pathogens. CDC scientists continue to provide technical guidance, data analysis, and access to data visualization to jurisdictions with wastewater surveillance systems. ![]() As of July 2022, a total of 46 states, 5 cities, and 2 territories have wastewater surveillance systems in their communities, with samples collected from wastewater systems serving more than 130 million people in the United States. Since its launch, NWSS has made great strides and now includes more than 1,000 testing sites nationwide. This information can be a critical early warning for authorities of new outbreaks and inform local decision-making, such as where to have mobile testing and vaccination sites. Through NWSS, health departments and public health laboratories develop their capacity to conduct wastewater surveillance, including epidemiology, data analytics, and laboratory support. NWSS started as a grassroots effort to connect independent, local wastewater surveillance efforts to form a robust, sustainable national system. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC launched the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in September 2020 to coordinate and support the nation’s capacity to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Local circumstances, such as increased tourism or changes in prevention measures, are also considered to inform public health decisions. Public health officials can also compare these data with trends in other surveillance systems, such as case reporting. ![]() ![]() To assess whether further investigation is needed, public health officials can compare wastewater surveillance data to historic levels at the same site and among neighboring communities. When used as a compliment to other surveillance methods, wastewater surveillance data can provide an important early warning signal of increasing infections. Using genomic sequencing to monitor the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater can detect the presence of infection in a community and suggest whether levels of infection are increasing or decreasing. SARS-CoV-2 enters wastewater through the stool of infected people. Wastewater testing is a novel approach for monitoring the virus, providing timely information about the changing prevalence of COVID-19 in different communities. Scientists can test community wastewater samples to detect the ribonucleic acid, or “RNA,” of SARS-CoV-2. Tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to be vital to interrupting chains of transmission, preventing new cases of illness, and saving lives. Samples of wastewater can be used to monitor community-level transmission of hundreds of millions of people. ![]()
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