Wastewater sampling could be key to early warning of new disease outbreaks | Medical research
Taking samples of wastewater can predict the outbreak of new diseases and the emergence of new variables for pathogens or months before they become widespread and new research He appears.
Control of pathogens in sewage systems, including on aircraft, can reveal existing viruses and bacteria and cause spread, as two studies indicate.
Waste water control is not invasive – it does not require wiping any people or animals – and it can discover what is happening in places such as natural reserves and farms without widespread monitoring in those sites, which are especially useful during the outbreak of the disease such as the H5N1 bombs, which are still gaining speed.
If we look back in wastewater samples, the researchers discovered the presence of bird flu in 2022 six weeks before the discovery of the virus in poultry and seven weeks before it was discovered in wild bird groups, according to what he said. research It was published last week by the United States Centers to control and prevent diseases (CDC).
The study analyzed 551 A.T. -of -Oregon’s influenza was discovered between September 2021 and July 2024 and found traces of bird flu in 12 society during that period – sometimes before the discovery of fascism.
last TicketThe researchers said that its analysis in Nature in February showed that the analysis of wastewater in airports around the world could hunt the following epidemic two months before the current monitoring systems.
The researcher model indicated that only 20 airports monitoring international and local centers can be planned effectively as new diseases appear and spread.
Alessandro Vespiniani, a professor of computer science and health at the University of North Istrern and his participation in the study of nature, said that the wastewater test is “more efficient than we currently, and most of them test people on the border or try to test hospitals, but in a way that is always late,” said Alessandro Vespiniani, Professor of Computer Science and Health at North Eston University and his participation in the study of nature.
He said that wastewater is faster and does not require wiping all travelers – and can discover new variables Covid, for example, two months ago.
Mark Johnson, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Missouri University and laboratory leadership in monitoring sewage in Missouri, said that tracing sewage “will definitely be a great improvement” to track the outbreak of continuous and emerging disease.
Johnson said: “I imagine a time when cities can mainly obtain a report card for what is going on in their community,” Johnson said. “If there is something from Kilter, you will know. If there are some new viruses, you will know.”
He said that doctors may have more specific readings about what viruses and bacteria publish in their societies, so they will know what they are looking for in exam rooms.
Among the people who analyze wastewater, there was an invitation to unite how to collect and analyze samples.
Johnson said: “The more uniformity, the easier it is to draw direct comparisons between different places,” Johnson said. “It will be difficult. We have the center of diseases control, but in fact, we have 50 states that each of them has its own health departments that make their own decisions.”
Creating a global system will help track pathogens as soon as they appear. Officials can also look at the archived samples, as did the Center for Disease Control Center in the report last week, to see if the alternative has arrived in recent weeks or months.
However, the Trump administration has stopped federal and international funding for research and launched many employees assigned to track the disease outbreaks.
Trump has also announced his intention to withdraw from the World Health Organization, which means that the United States will further enhance international experts and respond to the outbreak of diseases.
“This type of study is a testament to the fact that international cooperation is crucial,” said Vespiniani. “There are no limits to viruses, and if we want to have a good understanding of pathogens, we need to work cooperatively in the international community. There is no other way to do this.”
Vespignani said that monitoring of wastewater was the “next generation” approach to understanding infectious diseases, before adding: “Our effort is not subscribing to another nurse in the future.”
