SARS-COV-2 wastewater surveillance: Towards a complementary public health tool?

Thematic half-day

OnlineMarch 14th, 2022

Traduction simultanée français-anglais pour l'ensemble de l'activité (Simultaneous French-English translation for the entire activity)

Version en français disponible

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is a rapidly growing scientific field. It is used by some national and international public health authorities as a tool to monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2. It enables them to monitor the evolution of the virus and the patterns of its transmission. It provides a comprehensive portrait of the spread of the virus in human populations, including in asymptomatic individuals. This tool provides independent data at a lower cost than voluntary clinical screening activities, which can become overwhelmed. With rapid execution and well-controlled logistics, it could serve as a watchdog tool by providing early signals of possible resurgence of the disease, allowing for early intervention. Lastly, SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance could be used as a tool to detect and track variants.

This half-day session focuses specifically on the concept of “surveillance” and aims to acquire basic knowledge on pathogen monitoring (including the SARS-CoV-2 virus) in wastewater.

This training is geared towards managers, physicians, and public health professionals from large urban centres and remote areas who are interested in infectious diseases and environmental health, as well as members of the academic and municipal communities, and environmental laboratory personnel.

At the end of the half-day, participants will be able to:

  • explain the concept of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance (usefulness, feasibility);
  • identify approaches for facilitating its implementation and possible applications of this method in a watchdog context.

English PowerPoint:

Noon to 1:45 p.m.

Lunch – Tour of poster presentations and exhibitors (lunch is included for half-day participants).

Part 1

Moderator: Caroline Huot, M.D., M.Sc., FRCPC, Medical Advisor, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique au Québec

1:45 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Welcome and presentation of the half-day

1:50 p.m. to 2:05 p.m.

Reminder about the concept and notions of usefulness and feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance

Géraldine Patey, Ph.D., Specialist Scientific Advisor, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

2:05 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Implementation of a national surveillance system for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in France

Frédéric Jourdain, Ph.D., Epidemiologist and Project Manager for Microbiological Wastewater Surveillance, Santé publique France-Occitanie, Direction des régions

This activity includes a 10-minute discussion and question period.

2:30 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Implementation and potential applications in Canada: The pan-Canadian COVID-19 wastewater surveillance network

Chrystal Landgraff, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Enteric Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba

This activity includes a 10-minute discussion and question period.

2:55 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.

COVID-19 wastewater surveillance in Eeyou Istchee/Nituuchischaayihtitaau Maya Boo: Sewage/Surveillance for COVID-19 in Eeyou Istchee

Reggie Tomatuk, Environmental Health Planning, Programming, and Research Officer, Regional Public Health, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay
Catherine Dickson, M.D., Medical Advisor, Regional Public Health, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay 

This activity includes a 10-minute discussion and question period.

3:20 p.m. to 3:35 p.m.

Short break

Part 2

Moderator: Géraldine Patey, Ph.D., Specialist Scientific Advisor (co-leader), Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

3:35 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance program in Quebec: challenges and perspectives

Marie-Hélène Bourgault, M.Sc., Scientific Advisor and Project Manager of the COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Program, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

This activity includes a 10-minute discussion and question period.

4:00 p.m. to 4:25 p.m.

Large group interactive roundtable discussion

Participants will be asked two or three questions related to the theme and then will have the opportunity to answer them using a virtual platform that will generate a word cloud. Afterwards, with the support of the moderator, the experts will be able to comment on the answers and provide additional information to help participants better understand the subject.

  • Slim Haddad, M.D., Ph.D., Public Health Specialist, Direction régionale de santé publique, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale
  • Chrystal Landgraff, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Enteric Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Thomas Maere, Ph.D., Research Professional, ModelEAU, Département de génie civil et de génie des eaux, Pavillon Adrien-Pouliot, Université Laval
  • David Kaiser, MDCM, M.Sc., Medical Chief, Direction régionale de santé publique, CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

This activity includes a 25-minute discussion and question period.

4:25 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by sequencing in Quebec wastewater

Inès Levade, Ph.D., Expert Scientific Advisor, Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

This activity includes a 10-minute discussion and question period.

4:50 p.m. to 5:05 p.m.

Review of the day

Summary by a rapporteur of the day’s learnings in relation to key messages and introduction to the potential for surveillance of other pathogens and chemicals

Patrick Levallois, M.D., Specialist, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Évaluation et soutien à la gestion des risques, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Hugues Charest, Associate Professor, Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, microbiologist at the Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

5:00 p.m. to 5:05 p.m.

End of the day

Scientific committee of the day

Leaders

  • Caroline Huot, M.D., M.Sc., FRCPC, Medical Advisor, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique au Québec.
  • Géraldine Patey, Ph.D., Specialist Scientific Advisor, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

Members

  • Fabien Gagnon, M.D., M.Sc., FRCPC, Specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Direction régionale de santé publique de Laval, Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique au Québec.
  • Hugues Charest, Ph.D., Microbiologist, Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
  • Alain Létourneau, Ph.D., Professor, Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines, Université de Sherbrooke.
  • Manuela Villion, Ph.D., Microbiologist, Direction des expertises et des études, Centre d’expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec, Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques.
  • Annick Des Cormiers, M.Sc., Epidemiologist, Direction de la vigie sanitaire, Direction générale adjointe de la protection de la santé publique, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
  • Patrick Evans, M. Sc., Scientific Advisor, Direction de la vigie sanitaire, Direction générale adjointe de la protection de la santé, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux