Wastewater-based epidemiology

Wastewater-based epidemiology is all about checking the poops and pee of a community to understand what kind of diseases or viruses might be present in that community. Just like how doctors can find out if you have a cold or the flu by checking your pee and poop, scientists can find out if a lot of people in a certain area are infected with a particular disease or virus by looking at their poop and pee!

Every time we go to the bathroom, we release small amount of waste material into the water which ultimately goes to wastewater treatment plants. At these treatment plants, the wastewater is cleaned and treated so that it can be released safely back into the environment. Scientists can collect samples of the wastewater before and after the treatment process to check for signs of different diseases or viruses.

The scientists will look for specific genetic markers, proteins or other materials in the wastewater that are associated with different diseases or viruses. By checking many samples of wastewater over time, they can see if the amount of these markers goes up or down. If they notice a significant increase in a specific marker, they can determine that a disease or virus might be spreading through the community.

By knowing this information, scientists and public health officials can take action to prevent the spread of the disease. They can alert the community about the risk of the disease, implement targeted measures like quarantines or lockdowns, and deliver medical treatment in a quicker, more strategic way.

Overall, wastewater-based epidemiology helps us to protect the health of our communities by identifying diseases early and taking prompt action to prevent them from spreading.