Wisconsin leads the way in which in checking wastewater for illnesses

In September 2020, the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, public well being officers and researchers began looking for indicators of the virus’ unfold in an surprising place: our poop.

Samples of municipal wastewater offered a wealth of data that ― mixed with diagnostic lab testing, hospitalization charges, and different illness surveillance knowledge ― may warn officers of an increase in circumstances, assist them observe evolving types of the virus and inform public well being coverage.