National Wastewater Surveillance Could Prevent Future Pandemics
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights the critical role of wastewater surveillance in enhancing the U.S. public health infrastructure and preventing future pandemics. The report emphasizes the potential of the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), initially launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, to evolve into a robust tool for detecting and monitoring a broad range of infectious diseases. Key recommendations include optimizing the placement of sampling sites to enhance data representativeness, improving data quality and comparability, and expanding surveillance to include additional pathogens such as RSV and influenza.
The report advocates for targeted improvements to the NWSS to address its initial limitations and maximize its public health impact. Suggested enhancements include refining data analysis methods, increasing data sharing with external researchers, and building capabilities for early pathogen detection. These steps are aimed at ensuring that wastewater surveillance can effectively support ongoing and future public health needs, providing early warnings for emerging threats and improving overall epidemic prevention strategies. The report underscores the importance of investing in these improvements to achieve a more agile and comprehensive public health response system.
