Wastewater tests to check for influenza-A viruses too

The Pune Wastewater Surveillance project, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, is monitoring various strains of influenza-A viruses, including H1N1 and H3N2, as well as Covid-19 in the city. Scientists from various institutions are testing samples from wastewater treatment systems to detect the prevalence of these diseases. The project has been ongoing since August 2021 and has expanded to include other pathogens. Wastewater testing is considered less biased than clinical testing and can provide valuable information on the emergence and spread of diseases. The project has also created a user-friendly dashboard to present the results of wastewater surveillance.