A prominent COVID-19 surveillance program in San Diego County that utilizes wastewater testing to monitor the spread of the virus is experiencing a resurgence following federal funding cuts that previously hindered its operations.
The San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health program, known as SEARCH, is set to transition its operations from researchers at the University of California San Diego and Scripps Research to the newly established San Diego County Public Health Laboratory.
By the end of the month, the county will assume control over the program, which has proven to be an invaluable tool in detecting emerging coronavirus variants up to two weeks sooner than traditional testing methods.
According to Dr. Kristian Andersen, director of infectious disease genomics at Scripps Research, the ability to identify circulating COVID-19 variants is crucial for effective treatment and vaccination strategies.
In April, the SEARCH program faced significant setbacks when it announced a loss of funding shortly after San Diego County was informed it would not receive $40 million in anticipated federal public health funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This funding cut came as part of a broader $11 billion package allocated for state and local agencies to combat the pandemic’s impact across the United States. However, the Department of Health and Human Services had announced that the grants were no longer essential now that the pandemic was deemed over.
In response to these actions, a coalition of 23 states, including California and the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit against the federal Health and Human Services Department, contesting the termination of the critical public health funding.
In a significant development, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order in April, requiring Health and Human Services to cease withholding funds and to process payments from states.
As a result, in June, San Diego County learned that the expected funding would indeed be received, allowing SEARCH researchers to resume their vital work.
“All the money came through,” confirmed county spokesperson Tim McClain.
However, uncertainties remain for state and local agencies. The funding could still be at risk if the court ultimately sides with Health and Human Services or if the current grant funds deplete.
Despite the funding pause, scientists engaged in wastewater sample collection continued their efforts, utilizing alternative support from other UCSD researchers.
The team has since processed the backlog of data and successfully updated their dashboard, providing San Diegans with current insights into the prevalence of COVID-19 in recent months.
Dr. Louise Laurent, co-director of UCSD’s EXCITE Lab, emphasized the reliability of wastewater surveillance as a method for understanding COVID-19 circulation within the community.
Since samples are collected from wastewater treatment plants, the findings reflect trends affecting a significant portion of San Diego’s population, allowing researchers to foresee potential public health issues before they escalate.
“Wastewater monitoring does offer this sort of early indicator of what is coming around the corner before it actually becomes a huge clinical and public health problem,” Laurent stated.
The SEARCH program’s wastewater detection capabilities extend beyond just COVID-19 and aid in the research of various viral infections, including ongoing studies focused on Hepatitis A and Mpox.
Laurent noted that prior to the cut in federal funding, their lab was expanding efforts to test for emerging pathogens, such as avian flu and measles, via wastewater analysis.
The aim was to optimize these tests and share crucial findings with the county’s health officials.
While the SEARCH program has established itself as one of the most effective tools for monitoring COVID-19, it is not the sole method utilized in tracking the virus’s impact in San Diego.
The county’s Respiratory Virus Surveillance reports also play a vital role by tracking data related to positive COVID-19 tests, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
These various data sources contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the burden posed by COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses within the community, Andersen noted.
With the SEARCH program back in operation, San Diego County officials are hopeful about its potential to inform public health strategies and support the community’s health initiatives.
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