Language

English

Publication Date

5-21-2025

Journal

Frontiers in Public Health

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2025.1562659

PMID

40469614

PMCID

PMC12133736

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-21-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guidance regarding interpreting varying levels of viral loads in wastewater for public health significance. While collaborative efforts are key to implementing these community-specific wastewater surveillance programs, effectively using the data for public health decision-making still needs significant refinement. Aligned with recent calls for advancing the science of wastewater surveillance, the experiences described in this article examine the critical need to advance other aspects of WBE programs, including communication, ethics, and decision-making.

Keywords

Humans, COVID-19, Wastewater, Decision Making, Public Health, SARS-CoV-2, Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring, Pandemics, epidemiology, human health, viruses, quantitative microbial risk assessment, pandemic preparedness

Published Open-Access

yes

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