Wastewater surveillance: How it helps check outbreak of diseases

The Covid-19 pandemic has already claimed millions of lives worldwide, and the threat is far from over.

The virus is still mutating, and the need of the hour is to track new sub-variants and pathogens, besides introducing new surveillance techniques.

One such technique, crucial but low cost, is wastewater surveillance.

Speaking to The South First, Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director at the Tata Institute of Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bengaluru, and former Director at the Center for Cellular Microbiology (CCMB), Hyderabad, explained this effective technique.

He also elaborated on how civic departments in our cities can help identify viruses and pathogens early, thereby preventing an outbreak.