MMWR: Wastewater Surveillance Offers Early Warning for Measles Transmission

Recent CDC MMWR reports highlight wastewater surveillance as a powerful early warning tool for measles transmission. In Oregon, retrospective testing detected measles virus in wastewater roughly 10 weeks before the first reported case, with viral concentrations tracking closely with the outbreak’s peak—the state’s largest measles surge since 1991.

In Colorado, wastewater detection preceded confirmed cases and prompted rapid outreach to health care providers to reinforce vaccination recommendations. Together, these findings underscore how wastewater monitoring can complement clinical surveillance by signaling community transmission earlier, informing timely public health messaging, clinical preparedness, and vaccination efforts, while reinforcing the need for strong immunity and rapid case identification to prevent spread. Read the MMWR here.