Measles Wild-Type Virus Detection Through Wastewater Surveillance in Sandoval County, New Mexico
By
Kelley Plymesser
Jingjing Wu
Rachel M. West
Lauren B. Stadler
May 6, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Detection of Wild-Type Measles Virus via Wastewater Monitoring in Sandoval County, New Mexico
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Measles Virus Detection Key Mechanisms Wastewater surveillance (WWS) for early detection of measles virus in communities. Target Population Residents in Sandoval County and surrounding areas. Care Setting Public health surveillance and community health response.
Key Highlights
WWS detected wild-type MeV in Sandoval County before clinical cases were reported. A 5-day lead time was observed between wastewater detection and clinical case confirmation. Collaboration between NMDOH and Rice University enhanced measles surveillance. Increased measles-mumps-rubella vaccine uptake by 94% following WWS alerts. WWS provides early warning for public health actions and community outreach. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Laboratory confirmation of measles via real-time PCR or IgM positivity. Management
Implement enhanced surveillance following wastewater detection. Monitoring & Follow-up
Regular wastewater sampling and analysis for early detection of measles. Risks
Negative detection in WWS cannot confirm absence of disease in the community. Patient & Prescribing Data
Individuals in areas with detected measles virus in wastewater.
Timely vaccination and public health messaging are critical following detection.
Clinical Best Practices
Integrate wastewater surveillance with clinical case monitoring. Communicate findings promptly to healthcare practitioners and the public. Enhance vaccination campaigns in response to wastewater detection. Related Resources & Content
