Measles is surging in the US. Wastewater tracking could help.

Scientists are turning to wastewater tracking to help limit measles outbreaks in the US as vaccination rates drop and cases surge. Wastewater surveillance has shown promise in quickly identifying new cases of measles, potentially giving public health officials a head start in containment efforts. Studies have demonstrated the presence of measles RNA in wastewater samples, allowing for early detection even before clinical cases are confirmed. While there are limitations to this approach, such as the inability to pinpoint individual infections, it has already led to public health departments taking action based on the data collected.