Data Report
Other Viruses => Bird Flu (HPAI) => Topic started by: Masked Man on March 12, 2026, 08:23:47 pm
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Here's a possible template for making a grievance if your county/ municipality isn't testing wastewater for Avian Influenza Virus During History's Worst Avian Flu Pandemic Ever...
"This is a public grievance/inquiry in regards to the importance of wastewater testing:
I just want to know why there is
no public indication that (your county..I.e. Watauga County) is specifically conducting routine wastewater surveillance for the avian influenza A(H5) virus during what is considered the worst avian flu pandemic in history.
(Your date i.e. March 12, 2026)
"Based on available CDC and (Your state..I.e. NC) health data,
there is no public indication that (your county) is specifically conducting routine wastewater surveillance for the avian influenza A(H5) virus"
We have the technology and it's a fairly simple procedure to test wastewater for avian flu..
Wastewater Data for Avian Influenza A(H5)
LINK:
https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html
... it's all set up for the county to participate .. but nobody updates the findings during the worst avian pandemic flu ever in history...why do we not use it? Don't we want to play it smart?
I'm not sure if the local university would also get involved with and participate in updated wastewater test results or not or what kind of extra third party participation might get involved or what it would take to keep updated test results from wastewater for avian flu in our county. I just wanna know why aren't we monitoring this in my county? It seems important.. we live in a very susceptible region for avian flu.
One might ask why test for avian flu in wastewater? because
"Counties monitor wastewater for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) to act as an early warning system for infections in both animals and humans. This surveillance tracks the virus in communities without relying on individual testing, helping identify, monitor, and mitigate potential outbreaks in poultry, dairy cattle, and humans."
To me it just seems the more knowledgable we are about avian flu, the better off we are about avian flu. Having a record and account of the avian flu in our wastewater puts my county in a position of power. For example, sooner or later. say next year or so when we ask for assistance from the government or when we collaborate with third parties we will be armed with real numbers and concrete facts about the avian flu and its true impact it had and has on (your county). Imagine a county in (your state) full of poultry and cattle farmers that can't give the governor or senate any facts or figures about avian flu in their wastewater whatsoever? That would look bad and the county would lose the confidence and trust of its peoples. How would a county represent its people's best interest without being able to give the state or government any real data in regards to wastewater testing programs that the government helped make available to begin with? (The U.S. government monitors bird flu in wastewater through the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) If we don't use what the government uses to monitor bird flu how we going to look if we need to ask for government assistance as a county in crisis? Ya just gonna bat your pretty eyelashes and wing it? Or are you going to be able to show the government with numbers and statistics how the avian flu really hit our poultry farmers and cattle farmers in a real avian flu crisis?
..."Yes, monitoring bird flu is part of a collaborative, multi-level effort that often involves county-level health, agricultural, or wildlife departments working alongside state and federal agencies"
Blessings,
(Your name i.e. John/JaneDoe)
P.S. it doesn't sound like it would cost that much...
Some research indicates:
"Testing public wastewater for avian flu (specifically H5N1) generally involves participation in state or national surveillance programs, which can significantly reduce direct costs to local municipalities like (your county).
Based on wastewater surveillance data, here are the cost factors:
Cost per Sample: While individual diagnostic tests can cost around $30-$40, broader wastewater monitoring, including sample collection, transportation, and analysis, averages around $185 per sample, with costs ranging from $34 to over $500 depending on location and method.
Surveillance Partnerships: (your County) would likely partner with the (your state) Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC, which monitor select treatment plants across the state. Participation in these programs often offsets or covers the testing costs.
Funding Uncertainty: The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), which tracks avian flu, has relied on temporary funding that is currently under scrutiny, with proposed federal budget cuts potentially impacting future availability of free testing.
Programmatic Costs: Beyond laboratory testing, costs for the county would involve staff time for sample collection and coordination with state health officials.
If (your County) were to implement independent, regular monitoring outside of a state-led program, it would likely need to budget for recurring laboratory analysis and specialized sampling equipment."
——
P.S.
"Based on available CDC and (your state) health data,
there is no public indication that (your County) is specifically conducting routine wastewater surveillance for the avian influenza A(H5) virus"
We have the technology and it's a fairly simple procedure to test wastewater for avian flu..
Wastewater Data for Avian Influenza A(H5)LINK:
https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html
... it's all set up for the county to participate .. but nobody updates the findings during the worst avian pandemic flu ever in history...why do we not use it? Don't we want to play it smart?"