Wastewater Update: Influenza A

Influenza A in wastewater is trending higher than expected this time of year.

What we know:

  • Influenza A in wastewater in Potter/Randall County is trending up at the same time there are herds of cows testing positive for H5N1 influenza A around the country.

  • Reports of human cases of influenza, reported from providers in Potter and Randall counties, have been on the decline. This trend is expected this time of year.

  • Over the past 2 years, Amarillo Public Health has been working with a group from Emory and Stanford Universities on a WastewaterSCAN project testing the wastewater in Amarillo. They have developed an H5 influenza-specific test. H5 influenza in samples dating back to March 5 have been identified.

  • There is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 influenza.

What we are still learning:

  • We continue to work with WastewaterSCAN and CDC to test locations around the community.

  • Once these results are available, we will have more information to visit with the community about.

  • The FDA continues to reiterate the safety of pasteurized milk supplies. Drinking raw milk is not recommended for this and other reasons.

The City of Amarillo has partnered with WastewaterSCAN to provide wastewater surveillance in the City of Amarillo.

WastewaterSCAN is a national effort to spread a leading approach for monitoring diseases through municipal wastewater systems to inform public health responses locally and nationally. Scientists at Stanford University and Emory University,  and local wastewater and public health officials partner to produce actionable data about viruses and bacteria that can be tested in wastewater.

What We Flush Down the Toilet Can Tell Us a Great Deal

We call it “wastewater,” but we don’t want to waste it. Infected people can shed viruses in their feces even if they do not have symptoms. Once health departments are aware, communities can work together to prevent the spread of these illnesses.  

No Cost to Communities 

Philanthropic funding covers costs of the program.

Wastewater surveillance for Amarillo

  • Community-level wastewater surveillance at a treatment plant will not capture homes on a septic system.

  • Samples will be collected at the City of Amarillo River Road Wastewater Treatment Plant and Hollywood Road Wastewater Treatment Plant three times a week. 

  • The wastewater surveillance program will monitor for:

    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

    • Influenza (Flu)

    • SARS-CoV-2 (COVID)

    • Parainfluenza (HPIV)

    • EVD68

    • Human metapneumovirus

    • Norovirus

    • Rotavirus

    • Adenovirus

    • MPox

    • Hepatitis A

    • Candida auris

Per the CDC, wastewater surveillance can provide an early warning of disease spread in communities.

To learn more about the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) developed by the CDC please follow the link here National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) – a new public health tool to understand COVID-19 spread in a community | CD