Recently, a new shocking wave of measles cases has spread throughout the United States and shown an upward trend with little to no explanation for its spread. However, scientists have found that they can track measles spread through wastewater- a useless byproduct of our daily lives. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, wastewater scanning measures increased across the country to help limit the spread of bacteria. Now, companies like WastewaterSCAN have developed the technology necessary to detect measles in infected areas. By searching the water the day of, they can track possible cases and offer proper care even before symptoms begin.
Multistate outbreaks have occurred between Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. Experts believe these numbers are undercounted because many cases are going unreported. However, a majority of the cases were from people who had never been vaccinated for measles. Childhood vaccination rates have been declining across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic. Research from John Hopkins University found that MMR vaccination rates among children have dropped in more than three-quarters of U.S. counties. In order to prevent the spread of measles, it is important to get vaccinated and keep routine appointments with a doctor.
The pathogen that causes measles is shed through urine, making it helpful to search wastewater for warning signs of measles outbreak. Researchers at WastewaterSCAN have said that their technology has proven to be useful in hospitals in order to declare a widespread outbreak. They hope to implement it in public facilities, such as schools, township-managed facilities, and even franchises. Getting the most data possible is crucial to delivering an accurate report.
WastewatersSCAN is hoped to provide low-cost, non-invasive tracking of illness patterns in populations that might be subject to less healthcare. The technique is not specific to measles, though, and can be used to follow other infections such as those of polio and the flu. Wastewater analysis might not be used in place of clinical analysis but is an excellent early warning measure- one that allows health departments, such as the CDC, to respond early before diseases get out of control. It has been used in states like California and has tracked successful outbreaks in Sacramento and Hollywood.
Though vaccine rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, such outbreaks can be expected to occur with increasing frequency, warn experts. A combination of prevention through vaccines and new surveillance is the key to preventing such outbreaks in the future.
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