Surveillance of Respiratory Viruses in Eastern Kentucky Wastewater

PROJECT SUMMARY The Kentucky Dept of Public Health(KDPH) is seeking a collaboration with Dr. Scott Berry at the University of Kentucky to assist with their nascent Kentucky Wastewater Surveillance System (KYWSS), which aims to track the emergence of respiratory pathogens across Kentucky. The Berry Lab will leverage its network of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) collaborators to collect 24-hour composite wastewater from 10 or more locations up to twice a week. This will require hiring a full-time sample technician to coordinate logistics of collecting samples from WWTPs, handle RedCap collection paperwork, and maintain relationships with volunteers. The wastewater samples will be transported back to the Berry Lab on ice and processed within 24 hours using an assay developed in-house by the Berry Lab. This method utilizes Exclusion-based Sample Preparation (ESP) to simplify and expedite performance of the assay. RT-qPCR assays will be established so that 4 replicates from each sample will be assayed for influenza A and B, SARS- coronavirus-2, and respiratory syncytial viruses A and B in accordance with the CDC and WHO surveillance recommendations. Specifically, the CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 SC2 Multiplex Assay recommendations will be followed, as updated from Nov. 14, 2022, as well as the WHO RSV Surveillance Strategy assay 2b, as from the March 26th, 2021 publication. Analysis will be performed by the Berry Lab and data will be formatted according to CDC/KYWSS guidelines. Results will be communicated to the KDPH, who will disseminate the information to public health officials and impacted communities.