BCHC joins call to save a critical disease surveillance program
April 2026
A coalition of nearly 20 public health, environmental, and clinical organizations, including BCHC, is urging Congressional appropriations leaders to provide at least $120 million in FY27 for the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS).
The program tracks disease trends by testing sewage, allowing health officials to detect outbreaks earlier than traditional methods since it doesn’t require people to be tested or show symptoms.
The program faces a critical funding gap: more than $500 million in one-time federal dollars built out the current network, which now operates in all 50 states and monitors threats like measles and H5N1. However, that funding runs out in October 2026. Without new appropriations, the U.S. stands to lose a proven, cost-effective early warning system at a time of growing public health threats.
Colorado health officials, for instance, detected a measles outbreak through wastewater testing before clinical cases were widely reported, giving them a crucial head start on response.
