City lab works on tracking flu in wastewater

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This article was published 28/11/2022 (758 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg is developing tests to allow Canadian cities to track flu transmission by analyzing sewage.

Tests to detect influenza and respiratory synctial virus (RSV) are in the pilot phase and are expected to be gradually rolled out across the country in early 2023, said Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, vice-president of the lab.

The tests aim to detect A and B strains of both the flu and RSV, and scientists are working to make sure they can accurately detect human transmission of those viruses, Poliquin said.

“Our confidence in our overall understanding of wastewater continues to advance at a pretty amazing pace, all things considered.”

It took about a year to develop tests that could detect COVID-19 in municipal wastewater, and three months to start using similar tests for monkeypox.

Influenza and RSV are top priorities considering widespread surges in flu cases and hospitalizations, but there are “several dozens” of viruses or pathogens scientists hope to eventually pinpoint in wastewater.

“I’m sure that list will continue to grow,” he said.

The national lab views wastewater monitoring as a “key tool” to help keep communities safe from disease; its wastewater team has grown from three scientists to between 40 and 50, Poliquin said.

The scientists are also prioritizing research on antimicrobial resistance — preliminary work on which helped speed up COVID wastewater detection.

“I do feel that COVID helped to crystallize the potential of wastewater, or at least to very much accelerate the science.”

The University of Ottawa is involved in wastewater testing for influenza, and other countries are working on similar efforts.

When the National Microbiology Lab’s tests are ready, they’re expected to be the first national wastewater detection tests.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca