Following reports of polio cases and virus samples in wastewater from several other developed countries, Canada It plans to start testing the wastewater "as soon as possible," CBC News learned.
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) already monitors policy activity around the world, a spokesperson said in an emailed response to his CBC News question.
Currently, PHAC's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg has diagnostic tools to test poliovirus samples. Canadian samples suspected to be positive for poliovirus will be sent to that laboratory for further laboratory analysis and confirmation and the results will be shared with the respective local health authorities to provide an "appropriate public Sanitation measures can be taken.
According to the statement, PHAC has been in contact with national and international partners who are experts in the field to finalize the wastewater testing strategy.
26} Wastewater samples collected from "major high-risk municipalities" earlier this year will be tested to determine whether polio was present before the reported international cases. 9}PHAC will also send samples to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further review.
"However, it is important to recognize that accurately testing wastewater for poliovirus is a developing science," the statement continued. , may be affected by extreme precipitation events, such as flooding in communities.”
More to come.
