An electron micrograph of the measles virus. Credit score: CDC/ Courtesy of Cynthia S. Goldsmith
An progressive outbreak detection program that tracks disease-causing viruses in wastewater recognized the measles virus in Houston samples collected in early January 2025, earlier than instances had been reported. The group that developed this system, which incorporates researchers at Baylor Faculty of Medication, the Faculty of Public Well being at College of Texas Well being Science Heart—Houston, the Houston Well being Division and Rice College, revealed their findings within the American Journal of Public Well being.
The researchers detected the virus in wastewater utilizing a sequencing-based method, a extremely delicate and particular technique that analyzes genetic materials. This technique might need broad implications for public well being, notably as a sentinel surveillance system to detect viruses earlier than widespread outbreaks happen. The findings are related and well timed as measles instances are rising in Texas and the remainder of the nation and the examine gives a promising technique to get forward of potential outbreaks.
“In 2023, we confirmed that systematically sequencing the genetic materials in wastewater reveals dynamic modifications in human viruses circulating in a neighborhood.
“Importantly, analyzing these viral changes in wastewater can improve our understanding of outbreaks and transmission and inform public health preparedness, just as one uses meteorological data to better understand and predict weather patterns to anticipate potentially dangerous conditions,” stated co-corresponding creator Dr. Anthony Maresso, Joseph Melnick Endowed Chair and Professor in Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor.
Within the present examine, the researchers reported that their wastewater surveillance program detected the measles virus in samples collected on Jan. 7 in two Houston water remedy services serving greater than 218,000 residents. A parallel investigation confirmed on Jan. 17 the measles virus in two vacationers residing in the identical space serviced by the sampled water remedy vegetation.
“In such cases, our next step is always validating the signal with a second method, and we were able to do so through a collaboration with the Houston Health Department and Rice University,” stated co-first creator Dr. Sara Javornik Cregeen, assistant professor within the Alkek Heart for Metagenomics and Microbiome Analysis at Baylor. “They tested for the virus presence in samples from the same date and collection site and confirmed the signal using another technique, PCR.”
“As a reference, the 821 Houston wastewater samples we sequenced from the same area were negative for measles virus in the previous 31 months,” she added.
“Because no other cases have been reported and the detections occurred in the same area where the travelers resided, it is reasonable to assume that the measles signal detected in wastewater is from the two infected cases, which underscores the high sensitivity of the method,” Maresso stated.
“With lessons learned from the Houston measles detection event, we are now working with our public health partners to gather data on the current measles outbreak in West Texas. Although not reported here, our program has been monitoring measles in wastewater from those sites as well, hoping the information can help officials get ahead of this virus,” stated co-first creator Dr. Michael Tisza, assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor.
Presently, the researchers are usually not detecting measles viruses in wastewater in Houston however are detecting it in West Texas cities. The group continues to document the weekly exercise of potential regarding viruses and report the ends in the primary of its type sequencing-based well being dashboard that’s publicly accessible at https://tephi.texas.gov/early-detection.
Dr. Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston Faculty of Public Well being and co-corresponding creator, stated that “This work underscores the ability of sophisticated wastewater analyses to serve as an early detection system benefitting public health, health care and communities in preventing a measles outbreak in Houston.”
He goes on to remind us that “the best protection from contracting the measles virus is the MMR vaccine, which has been shown to be safe and effective.”
Extra info:
Sara Javornik Cregeen et al, Sequencing-Based mostly Detection of Measles in Wastewater: Texas, January 2025, American Journal of Public Well being (2025). DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2025.308146
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Measles virus detected in Houston wastewater earlier than instances had been reported (2025, Might 12)
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