The State Hygienic Lab (SHL) has established a wastewater testing program for SARS-CoV-2 to monitor COVID-19 infections in Iowa communities. The dashboard also tracks influenza A and B viruses.

Access the dashboard here.

What is wastewater surveillance and why is it useful?

People infected with SARS-CoV-2 or influenza can shed the virus in their feces, whether they have symptoms or not. This allows wastewater surveillance to be an early sign of the spread of COVID-19 or influenza within a community.

Another benefit of wastewater surveillance is it can detect the spread of infections in the community without relying on people seeking healthcare, accessing healthcare when sick, or the availability of tests.

How to use the dashboard

1. Link to dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/shl.uiowa/viz/SHLWastewaterWWTPDashboard/WastewaterTestingbyServiceArea

2. Select which virus to track: SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A Virus, or Influenza B Virus

3. Narrow the geographic location by selecting a service area filter. Scott County falls within Service Area 5.