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An infographic showing different types of pathogens that can be found in wastewater.

An infographic titled “Wastewater Surveillance isn’t just about COVID” from the Water Environment Federation (WEF). The infographic shows a poster with different types of pathogens that can be found in wastewater.

The poster contains the following text:

WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE ISN’T JUST ABOUT COVID

Markers of the pathogens listed below have already been detected in untreated wastewater in the US.

Many have been incorporated into ongoing wastewater surveillance programs run by state and local health departments and other groups. The ones denoted with an asterisk* are slated for inclusion in the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System panel of core pathogen targets by the end of 2023.

Other pathogens investigated but not part of programs yet include arboviruses (such as West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika), Campylobacter jejuni, Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Shigella bacteria.

Adenovirus 40/41
Common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children that is challenging to diagnose due to a wide variety of symptoms
Candida auris
Potentially deadly fungal pathogen that is often resistant to multiple drugs and can cause outbreaks in healthcare settings
Antimicrobial resistance
One of the world’s most urgent public health problems, antimicrobial resistance results in infections that are difficult, if not impossible, to treat
Enterovirus D68
Causes mild to severe respiratory disease and, less commonly, a serious neurological condition known as acute flaccid myelitis
Human metapneumovirus
In the same family as RSV, infections are relatively common but underdiagnosed and can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia
Mpox virus
Causes a rash, blisters, and flu-like symptoms, with infants and immunocompromised individuals at risk for serious illness and death
Influenza
In combination with pneumonia, consistently one of the top ten leading causes of death in the US; causes mild to severe seasonal epidemics
Norovirus
Very contagious virus that is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the US, with common outbreaks in winter
Poliovirus
Enterovirus that causes asymptomatic disease in most infected people, but paralysis and/or death in some cases
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Common respiratory virus that can cause severe disease in infants and older adults
Expected to be included in the National Wastewater Surveillance System core pathogen panel by the end of 2023.
The infographic also includes graphic depictions of the corresponding pathogens.