health
CDC wastewater surveillance funding drying up
EXCLUSIVE — Funding for wastewater surveillance is slated to run dry unless Congress boosts funding for the infectious disease prevention program as part of next year’s budget appropriation.
TL;DR
- The CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) is at risk of losing funding unless Congress approves additional budget appropriations.
- Initially established for COVID-19 surveillance, NWSS now tracks other infectious diseases such as measles and bird flu, providing early warnings of outbreaks.
- While over $500 million was invested via COVID-19 relief, dedicated, non-emergency funding has not been allocated.
- The program helps curb outbreaks by allowing public health officials to prepare and deploy resources, including vaccination campaigns.
- Bipartisan support exists for expanding NWSS, with legislation like the PREDICT Act introduced to enhance monitoring and data transparency.
- Public health organizations are urging Congress to provide at least $120 million to sustain NWSS operations.