Worrying COVID 'cicada' variant spreads as US maps go dark

Key Points:

• The CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) funding is set to be cut from $125 million to $25 million annually under President Trump's budget plan, raising concerns about the U.S.'s ability to monitor infectious diseases effectively.
• Experts warn that reduced funding threatens early detection of outbreaks, including COVID-19 variants like BA.3.2 ("cicada"), which has spread to 25 states and can partially evade immunity from prior infections or vaccinations.
• Wastewater surveillance provides critical, cost-effective early warning of disease spread before clinical cases rise, enabling faster public health responses and prevention of outbreaks involving viruses such as influenza, measles, and potentially more severe pathogens.
• Public health professionals and coalitions are urging Congress to restore and permanently fund the NWSS to maintain national coverage and prevent setbacks in infectious disease monitoring that could lead to higher medical costs and increased morbidity.
• Scientists emphasize that cutting funding now could undermine investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic and significantly reduce the ability to track emerging diseases, putting communities at greater risk of uncontrolled outbreaks.