Public health, water and sanitation professionals; water utilities; science councils; consultants; universities; research, commercial and pathology laboratories
The tracking of RNA material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater has been proposed worldwide as an epidemiological tool and early warning system to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Wastewater-based epidemiology aims to complement other COVID-19 surveillance data, including clinical testing, by providing pooled data for a specific area including symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and to provide data where COVID-19 clinical testing is limited.
The emergence of more virulent SARS-CoV-2 strains worldwide has increased the need to keep track of variants and their abundance. Limited published research has shown the presence of variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the sewershed. Tracking of these variants and their abundance in the sewershed could provide an early warning system for more virulent strains.
This webinar will present the latest and most appropriate methodologies, research and findings with respect to detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater. The event is open to all interested parties to understand how wastewater-based epidemiology can be used to support public health decisions and identify the genetic diversity and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in a given population.
Following this webinar, participants will be able to:
Here are some resources recommended by the webinar panelists:
International Water Association