Wastewater Tracking Gives Health Officials Insight Into Measles Cases
A new tracking dashboard has given the public the opportunity to determine where the measles virus has been detected in wastewater, which could be a critical tool for health officials.
The dashboard, called WastewaterSCAN, has been operational since 2020, testing U.S. sewage for the COVID-19 virus. Since then, the dashboard has added data for other viruses and microbes, including RSV, influenza, and hepatitis A.
So far, there have been more than 1,000 confirmed measles cases reported across 33 states. This is a 281% increase from the 285 confirmed cases in 2024.
With this increase in mind, tracking cases and understanding how they are spreading is of extreme importance. Although doctors are required to report cases of measles to the CDC, it takes time for patients to develop enough symptoms, including the telltale rash, to determine a diagnosis of measles. Wastewater monitoring can help to avoid those obstacles.
Given that one person infected with measles can spread the virus to up to 9 out of 10 others nearby, early detection could make a huge difference. “It gives us a finger-to-the-wind weather map of what is happening with infectious diseases,” said Dr. Marlene Wolfe, co-program director of WastewaterSCAN, per TIME.
Armed with this new tracking information, health experts can begin to identify trends and patterns, which could help public health departments focus resources in areas where cases are spreading.
By tapping into an often-overlooked resource, public health experts are gaining a real-time glimpse into viral trends, allowing for faster, more targeted responses.