The growing need to establish a global wastewater surveillance consortium for future pandemic preparedness
This publication argues that wastewater surveillance is applicable to a variety of pathogens including poliovirus, mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus and influenza virus as well as SARS-CoV-2.1 Given the need for a global surveillance network that provides early warnings against potential health threats, the role of wastewater surveillance is increasing rapidly as an approach for assessing the international transmission of SARS-CoV-2, its variants and other pathogens.
With this in mind the EU, in collaboration with Canada, the USA, the UK, Malaysia, Australia and other countries, is establishing an international wastewater monitoring consortium by open data sharing regarding SARS-CoV2 in urban and aircraft wastewater. However, establishing an effective global wastewater surveillance consortium calls for the participation of more countries from a wide range of geographical areas and economic levels under G7 initiatives, and possibly under the umbrella of an international organization such as the WHO. Such a consortium could share experiences and protocols and support monitoring in low-income countries, for building a valuable public health tool for future pandemic preparedness.