The study by researchers from the French national public health institute aimed to identify priority pathogens that could be suitable for wastewater surveillance (WWS) during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place from 26 July to 11 August and 28 August to 8 September, respectively. The pathogens were evaluated using a Delphi method which integrated evidence from peer-reviewed publications and expert opinion. WWS has become more prominent due to its role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a non-intrusive, cost-effective surveillance tool, WWS offers many advantages for the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 over clinical surveillance data, as data on virus circulation can be obtained regardless of an infected person's symptomatic status and testing/test-seeking behavior. The tool can also act as an early warning system. The six priority pathogens selected in the study were poliovirus, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, mpox virus, SARS-CoV-2 and measles virus.
They were chosen based on three inclusion criteria: analytical feasibility, relevance with regards to the 2024 Paris Games and pathogen characteristics, and their value for informing public health policies. A list of 60 pathogens of interest for surveillance in the 2024 Paris Games was initially compiled. Their analytical feasibility was then assessed by reviewing evidence from peer-reviewed publications demonstrating the detectability of pathogens in sewage, refining the list to 25 pathogens.
The relevance and.