Elke Wollants, a lab manager at KU Leuven with expertise in wastewater surveillance, discusses her innovative study on analyzing airplane toilet waste for viruses. She details the logistics of collecting samples from high-risk flights, particularly from Beijing to Brussels, and reveals that about 60% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Beyond COVID-19, they explored other pathogens, including norovirus and bacteria. Looking ahead, Elke shares plans for enhanced surveillance techniques and the potential to detect various serious viruses, contributing significantly to public health.
