Dr. Rachel Noble tests waste water samples for the SARS-CoV-@ virus in wastewater samples from across North Carolina.
Dr. Rachel Noble, Mary and Watts Hill Jr. Distinguished Professor of Marine Sciences, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Before March 2020, most people had never heard of wastewater-based epidemiology, also known as wastewater surveillance or wastewater monitoring. Wastewater surveillance is a tool used by public health agencies to test wastewater for compounds or microbes that are of public health interest. The approach provides a community view of the overall levels of infection of a population, and it is not only useful for managing COVID-19, but can also be useful for managing such pathogens as influenza, Salmonella, and E. coli. Dr. Noble’s laboratory has been leading the wastewater surveillance response for the State of North Carolina, partnering with other academic institutions and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. This presentation will highlight the growth of the technology and areas of current development, and will highlight the potential uses of wastewater surveillance in the future.
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Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ SECU Daily Planet Curator Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff.
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Brought to you by the NC DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.