Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Mitigates COVID-19 Outbreaks at a Food Processing Facility near the Mexico-U.S. Border—November 2020–March 2022

Abstract

Background: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has the potential to inform activities to contain infectious disease outbreaks in both the public and private sectors. Although WBE for SARS-CoV-2 has shown promise over short time intervals, no other groups have evaluated how a public-private partnership could influence disease spread through public health action over time. The aim of this study was to characterize and assess the application of WBE to inform public health response and contain COVID-19 infections in a food processing facility. Methods: Over the period November 2020–March 2022, wastewater in an Arizona food processing facility was monitored for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using Real-Time Quantitative PCR. Upon positive detection, partners discussed public health intervention strategies, including infection control reinforcement, antigen testing, and vaccination. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected on 18 of 205 days in which wastewater was sampled and analyzed (8.8%): seven during Wild-type predominance and 11 during Omicron-variant predominance. All detections triggered the reinforcement of infection control guidelines. In five of the 18 events, active antigen testing identified asymptomatic workers. Conclusions: These steps heightened awareness to refine infection control protocols and averted possible transmission events during periods where detection occurred. This public-private partnership has potentially decreased human illness and economic loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

• wastewater-based epidemiology
• SARS-CoV-2
• surveillance
• COVID-19
• targeted clinical testing