
REPRESTATIVE Image | Photo credit: the Hindu
The story so far: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will initiate wastewater Survelance for 10 Viruses Across 50 CITES Over the Next Six Months. Currently, Five Cities Are Being Monitored. The move is aimed at identifying any increase in virus growth trend at the earliest, said ICMR Head Rajiv Bahl.

What is the plan?
“The next six months will see the scaling up of surveillance across India which will enable us to pick up any risk in virus load in the communication. Survelance, ‘Explained Dr. Bahl. BAHL. Diarrhoea, Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (Inflammation of the Brain), and Respiratory Distress. Virus (AIV) by monitoring surface water and wastewater, particularly in areas with outbreaks, to Establish an Early Warning System.
India also has a robust surveillance system for influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (Sari) Through ICMR and the Integrated Disease Survelance Programsme (IDSP). Wastewater and Environmental Survelance (Wes) Use Samples from Sewage, or other environmental watters impacted by human wastewater.
Why is wastewater surveillance vital?
The icmr has noted that like all counts across the globe, India too is experience a significant increase in the emergence and re-emergence of pathogens, Including VIRAL, BACTERIAL, and Zoonotic, and Zoonoticic Diseases. Factors Contributing to this Pathogen Load Include Population Growth, Rapid Urbanization, Environmental Changes, and Increased Human-Nimal Interaction.

Recently, following the covid-19 pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology (wbe) has emerged as an effective tool for the early detection of disease. According to experts, wbe can be used as a predical instrument, capable of providing near-revenue-time, Community -LEVEL Pathogene surveillance and anticipating and Mitigating Future Pandemics Event First clinical symptoms are detected. “This Approach Enables Cost-Effective, Non-Invasive, And Population-Wide Monitoring of Infectious Diseases’ Emergence, Evolution, and Deccline. Bacteria), wbe delivers real-time insights inter infection trends, encompassing data from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic population, enabling timely interventions from published Authorities, “According to an article Titled ‘Integrated Environmental Survelance: The Role of wastewater, Air, AIR, and Surface Microbiomes in Global Health Security’.
It added that amon the key advantages are its capacity to encompass large population, pinpoint transmission hotspots, and facilitate Resource Allocation for Constance Effts.
How is it don?
According to the centers for disease for control and prevention, us, people with certain infections (such as covid-19), can shed pieces of the virus or bacteria when they use the Bathroom, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, Shower, launder clothing, even if they don’t have symptoms. These pieces of virus or bacteria travel from the toilet, sink, shower, or other drain through the sewage system.

So, before wastewater is treated, wastewater operators take samples to send to the laboratory. Laboratories test the wastewater sample to detect and report on the different types of infections that are circulating in a communication. This information is available in as little as five to sets after waste enters the sewer. Public Health Officials Use WasteWater Data to Better Understand Disease Trends in Communities and Make decisions, Such as providing guidance on how to prevention infections or go Options.
Where Else Can the Information Be Used?
Wastewater surveillance is a useful method to collect information and tackle diseases as well as land-based sources of pollution. In addition, it also provides useful data to mainTain ecoSystem services and Protect Freshwater and Marine EcoSystems. “This trend is encouraging for the future of health systems and sound environmental management but there is a need for expanding this positive trend further and enhancing the goal practices and significant experts to monitor Assess Water Quality, “According to the United Nations Environment Program. The World Health Organization is also Working on Capacity Development for wastewater and environmental surveillance.
Published – August 24, 2025 03:39 AM IST
Ramesh Ghorai is the founder of www.livenewsblogger.com, a platform dedicated to delivering exclusive live news from across the globe and the local market. With a passion for covering diverse topics, he ensures readers stay updated with the latest and most reliable information. Over the past two years, Ramesh has also specialized in writing top software reviews, partnering with various software companies to provide in-depth insights and unbiased evaluations. His mission is to combine news reporting with valuable technology reviews, helping readers stay informed and make smarter choices.