Researchers have developed a method to scan wastewater for signs of the H5 influenza virus infecting dairy cows in the U.S. WastewaterSCAN, a surveillance network, is scaling up H5-specific testing at treatment plants across 36 states. This technology can help detect outbreaks and track the spread of the virus. Other research efforts, like sequencing the virus from store-bought milk, are also being used to monitor its movement. The CDC is considering expanding testing for H5-specific subtypes in wastewater. Overall, wastewater epidemiology is a growing field that has shown promise in detecting various diseases, including influenza A.
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Bird flu surveillance in wastewater gets boost from consortium
