As the India Meteorological Department predicts above-average monsoon rains this year, the season brings not only relief from the scorching heat but also a host of health threats, including vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Addressing these health challenges requires innovative approaches to public health monitoring and intervention. In an exclusive conversation with BW Healthcare World on World Environment Day, Dr Angela Chaudhuri, Chief Catalyst of Swasti and a public health specialist shared her insights on the transformative potential of Precision Health Wastewater Surveillance in enhancing India's public health landscape.
With the monsoon season amplifying the risk of vector-borne diseases, dengue and malaria remain high-priority concerns for India. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NCVBDC), while malaria cases have decreased to 180,000 in 2022, dengue cases have more than doubled from 2018 to 2022, reaching 233,251. Dr Chaudhuri emphasised that both diseases are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity, making them particularly problematic during the monsoon.
“Dengue and malaria continue to be high-priority vector-borne diseases (VBDs) for India,” said Dr. Chaudhuri. “Both malaria and dengue are sensitive to temperature and humidity, which makes them a major concern during the monsoon season.”
Precision Health utilises advanced surveillance tools to monitor and predict climate-mediated health risks. These tools detect pathogens, pollutants, and health risks within communities, aiding in epidemic and pandemic detection and public health decision-making. Swasti Health Catalyst employs GIS-based analytical and forecasting systems to analyse weather patterns and correlate them with other spatial, geographic, or socioeconomic indicators of vulnerability, identifying high-risk areas.
“Our GIS-based analytical and forecasting systems analyse data on weather patterns and correlate them with other indicators of vulnerability to identify high-risk areas,” Dr Chaudhuri explained. “We have successfully used wastewater surveillance to detect pathogens such as rotavirus and influenza strains, providing crucial data for timely interventions.”
Traditional surveillance methods often rely on clinical reports, which only capture symptomatic cases among individuals who seek care. This can result in delayed intelligence gathering. In contrast, wastewater surveillance can detect asymptomatic cases up to 10 days before clinical manifestation, providing real-time data for early intervention.
“Traditional surveillance methods detect symptomatic cases among individuals who seek care at a health facility, causing delays in intelligence gathering,” Dr Chaudhuri noted. “Wastewater surveillance, however, detects asymptomatic cases early and provides data within 24 hours, enabling timely and effective public health responses.”
Dr Chaudhuri also highlighted the importance of participatory surveillance, which leverages community networks to gather regular intelligence on potential health threats. “Participatory surveillance gathers intelligence from communities, such as symptoms observed by individuals, which, when analysed with wastewater data, leads to accurate and timely decision-making,” she added.
Precision Health’s decentralised approach and user-friendly dashboards democratise decision-making in public health. These dashboards present data in an accessible format, enabling everyone from community leaders to city officials to understand the health implications and take appropriate actions.
“User-friendly dashboards decentralise decision-making, allowing empowered community leaders and officials to understand the data and take actions to mitigate disease spread,” Dr Chaudhuri said. “Our real-time digital dashboard comes with supplementary features that support decentralised, evidence-based decision-making.”
Scaling up wastewater surveillance across India faces several challenges, including regulatory hurdles, resource constraints, and the need for comprehensive research on detectable pathogens. Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities to enhance public health preparedness through integrated, multi-tool early warning systems.
“We had to convince government departments about the appropriateness of wastewater surveillance for COVID-19, and similar efforts are needed for other diseases,” Dr Chaudhuri explained. “More investments and commitments are required to make these early warning systems fit-for-purpose and to institutionalise them across the country.”
Engaging communities is crucial for the success of wastewater surveillance. Swasti Health Catalyst emphasises community engagement by linking data analytics to risk communication products geared towards preventive healthcare. Seasonal guides and training for community health workers are some of the tools used to raise awareness and build trust.
“We empower community health workers with seasonal guides to mitigate climate-sensitive disease risks,” Dr Chaudhuri said. “Our holistic approach to community engagement ensures that vulnerable communities are informed and prepared for potential health threats.”
Advancements in wastewater surveillance and other innovative technologies hold the key to building a more resilient and responsive public health system in India. Continued research and investments are essential to enhance analytical models, reduce data collection time lags, and improve community resilience to health threats.
“We need more investments to improve analytical models and reduce time lags between data collection and disease detection,” Dr Chaudhuri emphasised. “By spending more on preventive policies and systems, we can achieve cost-effective and impactful health outcomes.”
Precision Health Wastewater Surveillance represents a significant step forward in public health monitoring and intervention. By harnessing the power of innovative technologies and engaging communities, Swasti Health Catalyst aims to enhance India's public health infrastructure and prepare for future health challenges, ultimately safeguarding the well-being of its citizens. As Dr Chaudhuri aptly summarised, “When more people share our vision, we will truly be on our way to not just preparing for, but also preventing the next pandemic.”
