Local wastewater monitoring as a complementary tool in a mumps outbreak investigation in the Netherlands: a proof-of-concept study

Background

A recent outbreak of mumps resulted in a concerningly low number of classical disease notifications, causing a search for alternative methods of monitoring.

Aim

This study aims to evaluate whether mumps virus RNA can be detected in wastewater, and how these measurements relate to clinical monitoring.

Methods

Suspected mumps cases were recorded by local GP practices (n = 13) for 20 weeks and laboratory-reported notifications were collected. Social media monitoring was conducted retrospectively. Local wastewater monitoring using passive samplers was deployed downstream of the house and school of a confirmed case, in wastewater pumping stations serving the confirmed case and neighbouring towns, in the downstream pumping? station serving the entire area, and in a pumping station outside the affected area as a control. Wastewater samples were analysed using RT-PCR.

Results

GPs reported 50 suspected patients, of which 24 were confirmed. Several GPs noted suspected underreporting in the area.

The passive sampler near the confirmed case detected virus RNA directly post-diagnosis, matching the genotype from patient material, followed by a negative signal afterwards, while the sampler at the school and the local pumping station detected rising concentrations as more cases were reported. Samplers in neighbouring towns suggested an active outbreak, including positive measurements in a nearby town with no reported cases. Control samples were negative.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the first successful proof-of-concept for local wastewater monitoring of mumps and indicates a correlation between wastewater and clinical monitoring. These results suggest a role for local wastewater monitoring using passive samplers in creating situational awareness during an outbreak, even when cases are not reported.