The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched a £1.3 million programme to explore how wastewater monitoring can be used to detect a wider range of dangerous pathogens. Funded by the UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF), the initiative will assess cutting-edge technologies in UKHSA laboratories to track the presence of viral genetic material in wastewater and monitor changes in virus levels over time.
Building on the UK’s existing wastewater surveillance for polio, the programme aims to expand detection capabilities to include dangerous diseases such as Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, which has not previously been monitored through wastewater testing. In addition, the programme will evaluate the potential for early warning systems for pathogens like Mpox, West Nile Virus, and Lassa, helping the UK respond more quickly to outbreaks—a lesson highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, emphasized that the project aligns with the UK’s Biological Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan, underscoring health security as a critical component of national security. The initiative is seen as a valuable tool to improve preparedness and rapid detection of emerging infectious threats.
Professor Steven Riley, UKHSA Chief Data Officer, highlighted the cost-effectiveness and promise of wastewater monitoring for identifying emerging pathogens. He stressed that as biological threats increase globally, staying at the forefront of detection technology is essential for public health protection.
This wastewater monitoring programme is part of a broader biosecurity effort under the UKISF Biosecurity Portfolio, which supports innovative projects aimed at strengthening the UK’s capacity to prevent and respond to biological threats.
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