[Application and Significance of Wastewater-based Pathogen Monitoring in Infectious Disease Surveillance: Insights...

Wastewater-based monitoring of pathogens, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a highly effective tool for infectious disease surveillance systems. Wastewater surveillance systems can detect emerging infectious diseases or new viral variants in a community earlier than hospital-based clinical surveillance systems, thereby preventing the spread of infections. In particular, it provides a foundation for rapid response to variants with higher transmissibility and virulence. This study aims to examine how wastewater-based pathogen surveillance can be applied to monitor pathogen mutations through case studies from various countries worldwide. Moreover, wastewater surveillance is more cost-effective than mass testing in areas with low clinical testing rates and large populations. Genomic analysis of wastewater can detect several pathogens that may not be captured by clinical surveillance, thereby providing critical information for predicting the emergence of potential variants. In conclusion, wastewater-based pathogen surveillance is a valuable tool in public health management to respond to infectious diseases. It enables the monitoring of infectious disease spread and pathogen mutation trends. In addition, it can function as an early warning system through the analysis of wastewater from communities.