A Review of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Rural, Remote, and Resource-Constrained Settings Internationally: Insights for Implementation, Research, and Policy for First Nations in Canada

Jessica Annan, Rita Henderson, Mandi Gray, Rhonda Gail Clark, Chris Sarin and Kerry Black ()
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Jessica Annan: Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
Rita Henderson: Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
Mandi Gray: Department of Sociology, Trent University, Oshawa, NG11 8NS, Canada
Rhonda Gail Clark: Department of Biological Sciences, Geomicrobiology Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N5, Canada
Chris Sarin: Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Alberta Region, Canada Place, Suite 730 9700, Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3, Canada
Kerry Black: Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is regarded as a support tool for detecting and assessing the prevalence of infectious diseases at a population level. For rural, remote, and resource-constrained communities with little access to other public health monitoring tools, WBE can be a low-cost approach to filling gaps in population health knowledge to inform public health risk assessment and decision-making. This rapid review explores and discusses unique considerations of WBE in key settings, with a focus on the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has rapidly expanded WBE infrastructure globally. To frame our understanding of possibilities for WBE with First Nations in Alberta, we address the following questions: What are the unique considerations and challenges for WBE under similar contexts in rural, remote, or resource-constrained settings? What are the resources and expertise required to support WBE? This review identifies several unique considerations for WBE in rural, remote, and resource-constrained communities, including costs, accessibility, operator capacity, wastewater infrastructure, and data mobilization—highlighting the need for equity in WBE. In summary, most resource-constrained communities require additional support from external research and/or governmental bodies to undertake WBE.

Keywords: wastewater surveillance; COVID-19; First Nations; public health; equity; implementation readiness; vulnerable communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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