Wastewater based epidemiology as a public health resource in low- and middle-income settings.

Hamilton, KA ORCID: 0000-0001-9121-7894, Wade, MJ, Barnes, KG, Street, RA and Paterson, S ORCID: 0000-0002-1307-2981 (2024) Wastewater based epidemiology as a public health resource in low- and middle-income settings. Environmental Pollution, 351. p. 124045.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124045

Abstract

In the face of emerging and re-emerging diseases, novel and innovative approaches to population scale surveillance are necessary for the early detection and quantification of pathogens. The last decade has seen the rapid development of wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) to address public health challenges, which has led to establishment of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approaches being deployed to monitor a range of health hazards. WBE exploits the fact that excretions and secretions from urine, and from the gut are discharged in wastewater, particularly sewage, such that sampling sewage systems provides an early warning system for disease outbreaks by providing an early indication of pathogen circulation. While WBE has been mainly used in locations with networked wastewater systems, here we consider its value for less connected populations typical of lower-income settings, and in assess the opportunity afforded by pit latrines to sample communities and localities. We propose that where populations struggle to access health and diagnostic facilities, and despite several additional challenges, sampling unconnected wastewater systems remains an important means to monitor the health of large populations in a relatively cost-effective manner.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	East Africa, Epidemiology, Infectious disease, Kenya, Pit latrine, Surveillance, Wastewater
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 May 2024 08:20
Last Modified:	11 May 2024 02:34
DOI:	10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124045
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124045
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3180768