Influenza transmission dynamics quantified from RNA in wastewater in Switzerland

• DOI: 10.57187/s.3503
• Publication Date: 2024-01-05T20:20:35Z
• Authors: Sarah Nadeau; Alexander J. Devaux; Claudia Bagutti; Monica Alt; Evelyn Ilg Hampe; Melanie Kraus; Eva Würfel; Katrin N. Koch; Simon Fuchs; Sarah Tschudin-Su...; Aurélie Holschneider; Christoph Ort; Chaoran Chen; Jana S. Huisman; Timothy R. Julian; Tanja Stadler
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0302 clinical medicine; Influenza, Human; R; Medicine; Humans; RNA; COVID-19; Wastewater; Switzerland

INTRODUCTION: Influenza infections are challenging to monitor at the population level due many mild and asymptomatic cases similar symptoms other common circulating respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Methods for tracking outside of typical reporting infrastructure could improve monitoring influenza transmission dynamics. shedding into wastewater represents a promising source information where quantification is unbiased by testing or treatment-seeking behaviours. METHODS: We quantified A B virus loads from influent Switzerland’s three largest treatment plants, serving about 14% Swiss (1.2 million individuals). estimated trends in infection incidence effective reproductive number (Re) these catchments during 2021/22 epidemic compared our estimates surveillance data. RESULTS: Wastewater data captured same overall as laboratory-confirmed case catchment level. However, were more sensitive capturing transient peak December 2021 than The Re was roughly below threshold 1 work-from-home measures but increased above two after relaxation measures. third yielded qualitatively results with wider confidence intervals. confirmed comparatively less precise R_e before period, intervals that included one period. DISCUSSION: Overall, we show RNA can help nationwide Based on this research, developed an online dashboard ongoing wastewater-based Switzerland.