Public health experts and scientists are calling for increased investment in wastewater surveillance systems, positioning the approach as a cost-effective tool for disease detection, economic resilience and health security.
The call was made at the Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance Conference 2026, which brought together participants from 31 countries to explore how environmental data can strengthen global disease monitoring frameworks.
Speaking at the event, Kate Medlicott, Technical Lead on Sanitation and Wastewater at the World Health Organization, said wastewater surveillance offers critical trend data, particularly in settings where clinical reporting systems are weak or incomplete.
She noted that integrating such systems into national health strategies could reduce the cost burden of disease outbreaks by enabling earlier detection and faster response.
Participants highlighted that wastewater and environmental surveillance provides a non-invasive and scalable early-warning system capable of detecting infectious diseases, including emerging pathogens, before they spread widely.
From an economic standpoint, they stressed that early detection reduces healthcare costs, limits productivity losses and minimises disruptions to businesses and national economies during outbreaks.
The conference attracted 178 in-person participants and more than 400 virtual attendees daily from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, reflecting growing global interest in data-driven public health systems.
Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said Ghana was committed to integrating wastewater surveillance into its national disease control framework.
He explained that the approach had already contributed to polio eradication efforts and could be scaled to monitor other public health threats, strengthening the country’s preparedness against future pandemics.
However, participants raised concerns about the heavy dependence on donor funding to support such systems in many low- and middle-income countries, warning that this could undermine sustainability.
They called for increased domestic investment, policy integration and capacity building to ensure long-term viability, while also creating opportunities for local research institutions and laboratories.
The conference further recommended embedding wastewater surveillance within the broader One Health framework, which links human, animal and environmental health systems to improve overall disease control outcomes.
Other key recommendations included expanding research to guide policy decisions, strengthening laboratory infrastructure and developing sustainable financing models to support surveillance systems.
Chairing the conference, Ellis Owusu-Dabo emphasised the need for scalable and resilient systems that can support both national and global health security.
Organisers acknowledged the contributions of partner institutions, including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Environmental Protection Authority, Scripps Research, the Ministry of Health and the Gates Foundation.
The discussions underscored the growing recognition of wastewater surveillance not only as a public health tool, but also as a strategic investment to safeguard economies, strengthen resilience and support sustainable development.
