Public health surveillance, from social media to sewage, spots disease outbreaks early to stop them fast

Rather than winging it when an unusual health event crops up, health officials take a systematic approach. The goal is to quickly figure out what’s going on and squash any outbreak before it spreads.

John Duah, Assistant Professor of Health Services Administration, Auburn University • conversation
Nov. 21, 2024 • ~9 min

Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all species

Infectious diseases can spill over from animals to humans as well as spill back. Each cross-species transmission gives pathogens a chance to evolve and spread even further.

Sadie Jane Ryan, Professor of Medical Geography, University of Florida • conversation
Sept. 4, 2024 • ~12 min

Wastewater monitoring took off during the COVID-19 pandemic – and here's how it could help head off future outbreaks

Over 800 sites across the US report coronavirus data from sewage to the CDC. Here’s how this kind of surveillance system works and what it can and can’t tell you.

Carol Wilusz, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University • conversation
May 4, 2022 • ~10 min

The next pandemic is already happening – targeted disease surveillance can help prevent it

A more coordinated effort by scientists, stakeholders and community members will be required to stop the next deadly virus that's already circulating in our midst.

Maureen Miller, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Columbia University • conversation
June 1, 2021 • ~10 min

Genomic surveillance: What it is and why we need more of it to track coronavirus variants and help end the COVID-19 pandemic

The US lags in testing coronavirus samples from COVID-19 patients, which can help track the spread of the virus and the emergence of new variants. But labs are ramping up this crucial surveillance.

Vaughn Cooper, EvolvingSTEM Founder and Executive Director; Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
March 31, 2021 • ~10 min

Genomic surveillance: What it is and why we need more of it to track the coronavirus and help end the COVID-19 pandemic

The US lags in testing coronavirus samples from COVID-19 patients, which can help track the spread of the virus and the emergence of new variants. But labs are ramping up this crucial surveillance.

Vaughn Cooper, EvolvingSTEM Founder and Executive Director; Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
March 31, 2021 • ~10 min

Sewage-testing robots process wastewater faster to predict COVID-19 outbreaks sooner

A community's wastewater can predict coronavirus cases that haven't yet been diagnosed. The quicker that information is known, the better.

Rob Knight, Professor of Pediatrics and Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego • conversation
March 11, 2021 • ~5 min

5 strategies to prepare now for the next pandemic

Shoring up surveillance and response systems and learning lessons from how the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded will help the world be ready the next time around.

Angela Clendenin, Instructional Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M University • conversation
March 8, 2021 • ~11 min

The scent of sickness: 5 questions answered about using dogs – and mice and ferrets – to detect disease

Scientists are experimenting with using dogs to sniff out people infected with COVID-19. But dogs aren't the only animals with a nose for disease.

Glen J. Golden, Research Scientist/Scholar I, Colorado State University • conversation
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~8 min

COVID-19 clues in a community's sewage: 4 questions answered about watching wastewater for coronavirus

Sewage surveillance is one technique that can alert authorities to the presence of a pathogen in the community. An environmental engineer explains the state of the science when it comes to SARS-CoV-2.

Kyle Bibby, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Notre Dame • conversation
Aug. 31, 2020 • ~8 min

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