Wastewater Surveillance Urged for Tracking H5N1 Bird Flu Virus Outbreaks
Wastewater surveillance has emerged as a powerful tool for public health officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to gauge the prevalence of the coronavirus in communities across the nation. This method involves testing sewage for signs of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, poliovirus, and mpox virus. However, despite its success in tracking COVID-19, wastewater surveillance has not been utilized in the tracking of the H5N1 bird flu virus.
As officials work to determine the extent of bird flu outbreaks among dairy herds, some experts are advocating for the immediate implementation of wastewater surveillance. Denis Nash, a distinguished professor of epidemiology, believes that wastewater surveillance can enhance traditional surveillance methods and provide early detection of outbreaks. He emphasizes the low cost and ease of implementation of wastewater surveillance, making it a valuable tool in tracking the spread of infectious diseases.
Despite the potential benefits of wastewater surveillance, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reportedly discouraged its use in tracking H5N1 outbreaks. Marc Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, was advised by the CDC not to use a virus assay he had developed for this purpose, citing concerns about adding to confusion in the data. However, Johnson believes that the assay could have helped slow or stop the spread of bird flu in dairy herds if it had been in use earlier.
The discovery of avian flu in a Texas dairy herd sparked concerns about the spread of the virus, which has now been detected in 36 herds across nine states. Health and agriculture officials are working to determine the extent of the outbreak, with suspicions that the virus was introduced by a wild bird at a Texas farm in December. The virus has also been found in grocery-shelf milk samples, although pasteurization has inactivated it, reducing the health threat to consumers.
Experts like Eric Topol and Michael Payne believe that wastewater surveillance could provide valuable insights into the spread of the virus and help track its evolution. They argue that accurate testing methods, such as the assay developed by Johnson, could be instrumental in monitoring and controlling the outbreak. Nash advocates for a strategic deployment of community-based and facility-based wastewater surveillance to provide early warning signals of potential outbreaks.
In the current situation, where the source of the virus may be unclear due to factors like contaminated milk and bird droppings, reliable early warning systems are crucial. Nash emphasizes the importance of timely detection to potentially save lives in the event of community spread. As officials continue to grapple with the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the use of wastewater surveillance could prove to be a valuable tool in tracking and controlling the outbreak.