FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A disease detection program has identified the measles virus in Houston’s wastewater days before official cases were confirmed, offering a potential early warning system amid a nationwide rise in infections, according to a newly published study.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston, the Houston Health Department, and Rice University found traces of the virus in samples collected on Jan. 7 from two water treatment facilities serving more than 218,000 residents.
Confirmed measles cases in two travelers from the same area were reported on Jan. 17, highlighting the program’s ability to detect potential outbreaks before clinical cases emerge.
Scientists used a sequencing-based approach to analyze genetic material, a method that could enhance public health surveillance.
The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests wastewater monitoring may help identify viruses before they spread widely.