PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the National Wastewater Surveillance System in the fall of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
People with COVID-19 shed viral RNA, the genetic material from the virus, when they use the bathroom. The wastewater supply can be measured and monitored. Since so many people are now home testing for COVID, it is harder to get a handle on the number of total cases.
That's where wastewater measurements can help. According to the CDC, this tool can also be a big help in the event of future outbreaks of a wide variety of potential viruses.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
