CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease monitoring.

CDC studies reported that wastewater testing detected measles infections days to months before clinical confirmation, and the national wastewater surveillance system faces a proposed federal funding cut from about $125 million to $25 million.

CDC-published studies report that wastewater testing identified measles virus in sewer samples before confirmed clinical cases. Researchers in Colorado and Oregon found sewage signals that preceded diagnoses by days in one instance and by about 10 weeks in another. The CDC's national wastewater surveillance system, active since 2020, covers over 1,300 treatment sites and serves roughly 147 million people. That program is facing a proposed federal budget reduction in the current administration's plan. Key facts: - Colorado wastewater tested positive about a week before two measles cases were confirmed, and further contact tracing found additional cases. - Oregon researchers detected measles in preserved sewage samples about 10 weeks before the first reported case in a local outbreak, with sewage concentrations matching the outbreak's known peak. - The national wastewater surveillance network covers more than 1,300 sites serving about 147 million people and is proposed to see funding reduced from about $125 million to about $25 million; Congress has begun reviewing budget plans and state health departments are preparing for potential changes. Summary: The studies indicate wastewater monitoring can provide earlier indication of measles transmission and reveal silent spread in communities. The CDC-run surveillance network currently operates nationwide but faces a proposed budget cut now under congressional review, and state programs that rely on federal funds are preparing for possible funding shifts. Undetermined at this time.