This episode discusses paper-based devices for the use in waste water epidemiology and focuses on how these sensor devices can positively contribute to the current issues caused by the Covid19 pandemic. Many informal settlements in South Africa and other third world countries are exposed to waste water and this device may help to establish any contamination of their drinking water. These Paper-based devices could also be used to test the waste/sewage water of a settlement and establish the presence of Covid19 in communities, thus eliminating the need for individual testing which could also lower the load on testing facilities which are currently being overwhelmed in many countries. This could lead to rapid identification of Covid19 in communities and containing the spread of the pathogen more effectively.

For more information about this subject discussed by Dr Yang:

https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/cranfield-university/wastewater-surveillance-can-be-used-assess-spread-covid-19-resource-poor