Toronto Public Health is working on a wastewater monitoring initiative to identify potential disease transmission risks during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Dr. Michelle Murti, Toronto’s new Medical Officer of Health, announced the launch of a pilot project that will analyze sewage samples from high-traffic areas frequented by fans for infections like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
The initiative aims to explore the feasibility of monitoring other illnesses, such as measles, due to the anticipated influx of international visitors during the event. Dr. Murti emphasized that this surveillance program will complement existing safety measures to ensure the well-being of attendees throughout the tournament.
With an estimated 300,000 out-of-town visitors expected for six World Cup matches starting in June, the city is preparing for a significant influx of individuals. The decision to implement this program follows the conclusion of Ontario’s COVID-19 wastewater surveillance initiative, which provided valuable insights during the pandemic.
Dr. Fahad Razak, an internal medicine specialist at St. Michael’s Hospital, praised the utilization of wastewater monitoring for large-scale events like the World Cup as a proactive strategy to address public health concerns. He highlighted the potential for continued use of this technology beyond COVID-19, citing examples like Windsor-Essex County’s successful detection of measles outbreaks through wastewater analysis earlier this year.
Dr. Razak suggested broader applications of wastewater surveillance, including monitoring for opioid contamination during the World Cup, emphasizing the importance of leveraging such data to safeguard public health and prevent disease transmission.
Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, co-lead of the Guelph Wastewater Epidemiology Lab for Public Health, expressed concerns over the discontinuation of Ontario’s province-wide wastewater surveillance program, which monitored a substantial portion of the population. He acknowledged the potential benefits of localized initiatives like the current pilot project but noted limitations in coverage, especially considering the mobility of attendees during the World Cup.
Dr. Murti underscored the significance of assessing the effectiveness of wastewater surveillance for future large-scale events in Toronto, emphasizing the value of proactive measures to ensure public safety and health.