Expansion of New York Wastewater Monitoring Planned

by Mindy Cohen

In an effort to detect more illnesses before they can spread in the community, New York public health officials are planning to expand their efforts towards infectious disease monitoring in wastewater. 

The State Department of Health announced the receipt of $21.6 million in funding, including a $6.6 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funding will be used to expand wastewater monitoring.

Health officials will begin testing for Influenza A, RSV, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and antimicrobial-resistant genes in a select number of counties during its pilot plan phase.

The expansion is another offshoot of COVID-19 and the polio scare in Rockland County and New York City, both of which changed how diseases and community spread of diseases are monitored.

Public wastewater monitoring for COVID-19  and polio help health officials determine if the virus is spreading through a community and, if found, help them decide if they need to move to address that spread.

photo credit: Flickr