Wastewater surveillance

Genomic surveillance allows genetic mapping of pathogens to predict their pathogenicity, drug resistance, and evolutionary trajectory. An in-depth understanding of the pathogen's genetic architecture would allow us to develop efficient diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. However, asymptomatic infections and poor medical facilities limit the representation of pathogens in clinical samples. Unchecked infections allow their quicker spread in the community and lead to diseases outbreak. Infected humans continuously shed pathogens particles through the gastrointestinal tract as feces which eventually enter the community wastewater. Wastewater surveillance provides quick insights into pathogen prevalence, its evolutionary trajectory, and community disease outbreaks. Wastewater surveillance allowed monitor community outbreaks of various viral and bacterial pathogens and showed their efficacy in tracking these infections. The current chapter focuses on wastewater surveillance of multiple pathogens and methodologies adopted to track various infections. Wastewater surveillance showcased its efficacy for public health management and could be used to develop effective public health policies for human welfare.