Four Models of Wastewater-Based Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 Complementing Individual Screening in Jail Settings.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has emerged as a critical tool for monitoring infectious diseases in communities.
• Jails present unique challenges for disease surveillance due to population density and architectural variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail four distinct models for implementing WBS for SARS-CoV-2 in jails of varying sizes and designs.
• To assess the effectiveness and challenges of WBS in carceral settings.

Main Methods:

• Described the operationalization of WBS in four jails: Cook County (IL), Fulton County (GA), Middlesex County (MA), and Washington, DC.
• Data collected between 2020 and 2023, encompassing jails with average daily populations ranging from 875 to 6000.
• Considered diverse architectural designs, including dorm- and cell-based housing.

Main Results:

• WBS successfully identified new SARS-CoV-2 infections in previously unaffected jail units.
• Implementation challenges included political will, funding, understanding building infrastructure, and data interpretation.
• Positive WBS signals accurately heralded new infection onsets.

Conclusions:

• Wastewater-based surveillance is an effective strategy for detecting SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in jails of diverse sizes and architectural types.
• WBS serves as a viable model for population-based surveillance in correctional facilities for future public health threats.