ICMR set to monitor wastewater for 10 viruses in 50 cities , Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The ICMR will expand wastewater surveillance to 50 cities to monitor 10 viruses.
• Currently, surveillance focuses on COVID-19 and polio virus in 5 cities.
• The goal is to detect increases in virus growth trends early on.
• AMR surveillance is already being conducted in hospitals nationwide.

Detailed Insights:

• Environmental surveillance will monitor surface water and wastewater for viruses like avian influenza (AIV), especially in outbreak areas, to create an early warning system.
• India has existing surveillance systems for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI).
• Monitoring wastewater can provide insights into community health and potential outbreaks before they become widespread.
• Detecting AMR is crucial to prevent ineffective treatments, prolonged illnesses, higher costs, and increased mortality.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Wastewater Surveillance: Monitoring sewage for pathogens to detect disease outbreaks.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Microorganisms' ability to resist medications, rendering treatments ineffective.