Framework for Addressing Ethical Considerations in Infectious Diseases Public Health Wastewater Surveillance
March 10, 2025 | Kata Chillag, Elizabeth Fenton
Wastewater surveillance, which measures pathogen levels in wastewater, is vital to evaluating community-level health trends and can be used to complement traditional surveillance and interventions. While this practice is critical for monitoring community health, it also brings ethical considerations for privacy, stigma, and data stewardship. The significant growth in the use of wastewater surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of addressing the ethical implications. Learn more about how ethical frameworks can support health agencies in their critical work in this report.