Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh: Opportunities and challenges

• Authors: Rehnuma Haque, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Christine Moe, Emory University; Suraja J Raj, Emory University; Li Ong, University of Oxford; Katrina Charles, University of Oxford; Allen G Ross, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Tahmina Shirin, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR); Rubhana Raqib, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Protim Sarker, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Mahbubur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Mohammed Ziaur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Nuhu Amin, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Zahid Hayat Mahmud, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Mahbubur Rahman, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR); Dara Johnston, UNICEF; Nargis Akter, UNICEF; Taqsem A Khan, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA); Md Alamgir Hossain, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA); Rezaul Hasan, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh; Tahmidul M Islam, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); Prosun Bhattacharya, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
• Journal Title: Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health
• Volume: Volume 27
• Publisher: Elsevier BV | 2022-06-01, Pages 100334-100334
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100334
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Geography
• Keywords: Low-income countries; SARS-CoV-2; Sanitation; Sewage; WASH; Wastewater

Abstract

The ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health crisis of global concern. The progression of the COVID-19 pandemic has been monitored in the first place by testing symptomatic individuals for SARS-CoV-2 virus in the respiratory samples. Concurrently, wastewater carries feces, urine, and sputum that potentially contains SARS-CoV-2 intact virus or partially damaged viral genetic materials excreted by infected individuals. This brings significant opportunities for understanding the infection dynamics by environmental surveillance. It has advantages for the country, especially in densely populated areas where individual clinical testing is difficult. However, there are several challenges including: 1) establishing a sampling plan and schedule that is representative of the various catchment populations 2) development and validation of standardized protocols for the laboratory analysis 3) understanding hydraulic flows and virus transport in complex wastewater drainage systems and 4) collaborative efforts from government agencies, NGOs, public health units and academia.