Measles cases are surging in the United States, with over 2,500 confirmed cases reported since the start of January 2025, and three deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This increase comes a year after Texas reported a measles case that triggered a multi-state outbreak. As vaccination rates decline, scientists are exploring innovative methods to detect and prevent the spread of the disease, including wastewater surveillance.
Wastewater analysis, which gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being applied to track measles. Wastewater contains a variety of biological materials, including saliva, urine, and shed skin cells, offering a rich source of information about the health of a community. "You could consider it a rich biological sample," said Dr. Emily Carter, a lead researcher in the field. "It's early days, but it is starting to help us get a handle on measles."
The application of wastewater surveillance involves collecting and analyzing wastewater samples for the presence of measles virus RNA. This process can provide early warnings of potential outbreaks, even before clinical cases are reported. The technology relies on advanced molecular techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect and quantify the virus.
Globally, significant strides have been made in combating measles through vaccination efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that measles vaccinations have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000, leading to an 88% decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2024. Despite this progress, an estimated 95,000 people died from measles.
The success of wastewater surveillance for measles hinges on several factors, including the sensitivity of the detection methods and the representativeness of the wastewater samples. Researchers are working to optimize these aspects to improve the accuracy and reliability of the surveillance system. Further developments will focus on integrating wastewater data with other public health data sources to create a comprehensive surveillance network.
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