Researchers in Thailand are examining wastewater for signs of monkeypox, as part of surveillance efforts to detect the spread of the virus.
Academics from Naresuan University, in Phitsanulok1 province, northern Thailand, began testing sewage at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport in May, adopting a technique that has also been used to track the spread of Covid-19.
Monitoring wastewater is thought to be a quicker, more cost-effective way to understand the spread of the monkeypox, compared with testing individuals.
Monkeypox can be detected in the faeces of an infected person, even during the latent phases when they are not displaying symptoms, according to officials quoted by Thai media.
Dr Thanaphon Penrat, of Thailand’s ministry of higher education, science, research and innovation, said there was no risk of sewage water spreading the disease: “The detection of monkeypox traces in sewage waste water is considered safe and there is no evidence of the possibility to get infected via sewage waste water. [It’s the] same as Sars-CoV-2, which can not be transmitted through sewage waste water.”
The research, which is funded by a science research and innovation fund through the national research council of Thailand, did not find any traces of the virus when the project was piloted at Suvarnabhumi airport. Only one case of monkeypox has so far been identified in Thailand.
The global monkeypox outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), the strongest call to action the agency can make, last week, and has been detected in 78 countries.
Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BST
Previously, wastewater monitoring has allowed researchers to spot the arrival of new Covid strains before widespread outbreaks occur, allowing local areas to prepare health services.
The arrival of the Delta variant in Phitsanulok and Yala provinces in Thailand was spotted 20 days before an outbreak occurred, while Omicron was earlier spotted 10 days in advance, officials told Thai media.