Workshop Proposal: Wastewater Handling in Outbreak Response - Lessons and Research Needs from the 2014/15 Ebola Virus Outbreak

1612429比比2014年3月，一场史无前例的埃博拉病毒疫情在西非爆发。为了应对埃博拉病毒疫情，世界卫生组织和美国疾病控制中心都建议将受埃博拉病毒污染的液体废物直接处置到污水系统(废水收集和处理系统)和厕所中，而不进行消毒。根据这一建议，提出了关于适当处理受埃博拉病毒污染的液体废物的若干问题，包括埃博拉病毒在环境中的持久性、针对埃博拉病毒的消毒方法的效力以及埃博拉病毒在废水基础设施内构成的风险。鉴于此次疫情爆发后的不确定性和研究，首席调查员(PI)建议举办一次讲习班，总结有关埃博拉在人类排泄物和环境中命运的知识状况。这一主题将扩展到其他新出现的致命病原体。这次研讨会的目标是总结当前的研究成果，比较使用埃博拉病毒替代品和埃博拉病毒的结果，并就疫情应对和研究需求的建议达成共识。研讨会计划在华盛顿特区举行，为期1.5天(暂定2月18日至19日)。拟议中的研讨会将通过分享尖端研究，增进对埃博拉污染废水处理的理解。它还将为疫情应对中的废水处理提供信息。提倡者完全有资格举办拟议的研讨会，因为每个人都有积极资助的环境病毒持久性和量化项目，包括埃博拉病毒持久性。研讨会与参与埃博拉研究的国土安全部调查人员进行协调，调查人员进行的研究结果将进行比较。拟议的项目将促进讲习班参与者的教学、培训和学习。研讨会策划者的目标是邀请一小批博士后学者和研究生来加强参与和培训。拟议的讲习班将扩大参与范围，通过针对讲习班参与者和讨论领导人的性别平衡来整合多样性。该项目的成果将在同行评议的文献和研讨会的最后报告中传播。最终，该研讨会将通过在疫情应对中更知情的废水处理来改善公共卫生。

1612429BibbyIn March 2014, an unprecedented outbreak of Ebola virus disease began in Western Africa. In response to the Ebola virus epidemic, both the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control advised direct disposal of Ebola-contaminated liquid waste into sewage systems (wastewater collection and treatment systems) and latrines without disinfection. In the wake of this recommendation, several questions were raised regarding appropriate handling of Ebola virus contaminated liquid waste, including the environmental persistence of Ebola virus, efficacy of disinfection approaches against Ebola virus, and risks posed by Ebola virus within wastewater infrastructure. In light of the uncertainty and research following this outbreak, the principal investigator (PI) proposes a workshop to summarize the state of knowledge on Ebola fate in human waste and the environment. This topic will be extended to other emerging deadly pathogens. The goal of this workshop is to summarize current research findings, compare results utilizing Ebola virus surrogates and the Ebola virus, and move towards a consensus on recommendations for outbreak response and research needs. The workshop is proposed to be 1.5 days (tentatively February 18-19) in the Washington, D.C. region.The proposed workshop will advance understanding in the handling of Ebola contaminated wastewater by sharing cutting edge research. It will also inform wastewater handling in outbreak response. The proposers are well-qualified to conduct the proposed workshop as each have active funded projects in environmental viral persistence and quantification, including Ebola virus persistence. The workshop is coordinated with Homeland Security investigators who are involved in Ebola studies, and the results of the studies conducted by the investigators will be compared. The proposed project will promote teaching, training, and learning for workshop participants. It is the goal of the workshop planners to invite a small group of postdoctoral scholars and graduate students to enhance participation and training. The proposed workshop will broaden participation and integrate diversity through targeting gender balance in workshop participants and discussion leaders. The results from this project will be disseminated in the peer-reviewed literature and a final workshop report. Ultimately, this workshop will lead to improved public health through better-informed wastewater handling in outbreak response.