By Ayobami Okerinde

A recent study has revealed improved methods for detecting virus in wastewater, enhancing the sensitivity of monitoring efforts.

A Nigerian researcher and expert in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), Pelumi Oladipo has developed a novel wastewater testing technique that permits the detection of viruses. This can potentially provide early warning of outbreaks in our communities. The study which is recently published in Science of the Total Environment, demonstrates that their new approach is nearly four times more sensitive than traditional testing methods.

They found that a new tampon-based elution method, dubbed “SwabM2,” significantly increased the detection of SARS-CoV-2 markers in wastewater compared to traditional grab sampling methods. SwabM2 was shown to be especially effective in detecting viral markers when concentrations were too low for grab samples to identify, increasing the likelihood of early detection during new outbreaks.

Speaking on the study, Pelumi Oladipo explained that “in the wake of the SARSCoV2 pandemic that shook the whole world with over 7 million deaths, wastewater-based epidemiology can be a useful tool in tracking viral infection.” This can save a lot of lives from diseases caused by highly virulent organisms in Nigeria and Africa at large.

She remarked that “The key to preventing infections as well as monitoring the efficacy of drugs is to test municipal wastewater in the community using this SwabM2 before furthering process in the laboratory. Our new technique can show how virus can evolve in real time as we were able to detect rare variants of SARS-CoV-2 such as XBB and JN lineages”.

Since the materials for this technique are low-cost and relatively accessible, she believed this could be a game changer in the public health surveillance of Africans.

As we move toward a more interconnected world, understanding how to effectively monitor emerging pathogens in wastewater is essential for timely intervention and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

The study advocates for further research into refining passive sampling methods and calls for broader implementation of SwabM2 in wastewater monitoring systems globally. With its enhanced sensitivity, this method is poised to be a game-changer in the ongoing fight against infectious diseases.