(Wednesday, November 1, 2023) – Infectious disease experts are concerned that COVID-19, influenza and RSV case numbers will rise simultaneously and are warning the public about the potential of a “tripledemic.” Tracking these viruses and informing the public is key to preventing the spread of these diseases. Scientists are using wastewater to detect traces of infectious diseases and sharing the data to help public health officials and individuals make informed decisions.

WastewaterSCAN is a nationwide program working with municipal wastewater treatment plants in more than 180 communities. The program tracks seasonal and emerging diseases through wastewater and posts timely results to its free and publicly available data dashboard within 48 hours of receiving a sample from a community.

Dr. Alexandria Boehm, Stanford University professor and program director with WastewaterSCAN, explains.

SOUNDBITE #1:

EVERY TIME YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH, FLUSH THE TOILET, OR WATCH ANYTHING DISAPPEAR DOWN THE DRAIN, YOU ARE CREATING WASTEWATER. SAMPLES COLLECTED AT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, WHERE EVERYONE’S WASTE IS COMBINED, ARE TESTED AND CAN DETECT TRACES OF DISEASES LIKE FLU FROM INFECTED PEOPLE, EVEN IF THEY DON’T FEEL SICK. THE DATA CREATED FROM TESTING WASTEWATER CAN INFORM COMMUNITIES OF A RISE IN VIRUS LEVELS OFTEN BEFORE THEY EVEN SHOW UP AS CLINICAL RESULTS.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THIS DATA WILL HELP PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, INDIVIDUALS, AND COMMUNITIES MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FROM SEASONAL AND EMERGING DISEASES. THE PROGRAM USES WASTEWATER MONITORING TO TRACK THE LEVELS OF TWELVE VIRUSES—INCLUDING COVID-NINETEEN, INFLUENZA, R-S-V, IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIRTY-SIX STATES AND PROVIDES DATA THROUGH A FREE, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DASHBOARD.

To learn more and to access your local details, visit https://data.wastewaterscan.org/.