Health department to expand wastewater disease surveillance with $60,000 NACCHO grant

The Budget and Finance Committee moved forward a grant ordinance allowing the Cincinnati Health Department to accept $60,000 from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to expand wastewater surveillance for infectious diseases.

Dr. Dudesch said the funds are provided through the Regional Emergency Preparedness Program and would be used by the health department in conjunction with the sewer district to expand wastewater-based infectious disease surveillance. "This would enable an expansion of the surveillance of wastewater for infectious diseases," he said.

The committee placed item number 5 on for passage. The staff presentation did not include a detailed project schedule or expected pathogens to be monitored; staff indicated the work will be coordinated with the sewer district.

No local matching requirement or dollar-for-dollar breakdown was discussed at the meeting.