It’s a dirty job but someone’s gotta do it. 
As part of the JUA KIVU project we are collecting wastewater samples from several places. The pictures show installation of passive samplers at the busiest public toilet in Kigali with around 5400 visits per day.

Wastewater sampling is a powerful tool for understanding community health. 
By collecting and analyzing samples from sewage systems, scientists can detect traces of viruses that people excrete—often before they show symptoms. This approach makes it possible to monitor the spread of mpox, but also other infections such as polio, influenza, or even emerging viruses, without relying on individual testing. Because wastewater reflects the combined health of an entire population, it provides a cost-effective, anonymous, and inclusive way to track diseases across large areas.

In the context of outbreak control, wastewater data can act as an early warning system. 
When virus levels in wastewater rise, public health officials can respond quickly—by increasing clinical testing, sharing public health advice, or implementing targeted interventions. This proactive method helps prevent outbreaks from growing undetected and supports informed decision-making during public health crises. As global challenges from infectious diseases continue to evolve, wastewater surveillance is becoming an essential part of protecting communities and building resilient health systems.

In Rwanda, a recent training brought together local scientists from Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and the DRC to learn hands-on methods for processing and analyzing samples. 
The workshop focused on practical techniques and data analysis—from processing samples for metagenomic and amplicon-based whole genome sequencing to analyzing and interpreting the resulting data using bioinformatics tools. By sharing these skills, the training helps strengthen local expertise in environmental surveillance and public health research. Participants gained technical knowledge to be able to apply it in their own laboratories and communities, ensuring that important monitoring work can continue sustainably at the national level.

Building local capacity is a cornerstone of long-term public health resilience. When scientists and institutions within a country have the tools, knowledge, and infrastructure to monitor disease threats, they can respond more quickly and effectively to outbreaks. Empowering local experts reduces dependency on external laboratories and creates lasting networks for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing. This approach ensures that scientific progress benefits the people who need it most—protecting communities, strengthening health systems, and promoting regional self-reliance in the face of future challenges.

The training followed the protocols, which are available here:

https://www.globalsurveillance.eu/-/media/sites/global_surveillance/gl-protocols/protocol-for-viral-metagenomics-sequencing-using-ont.pdf

https://www.globalsurveillance.eu/-/media/sites/global_surveillance/gl-protocols/protocol-for-mpox-sequencing-on-ont.pdf

The training also used the following package list of the reagents and plastics used during the African workshops:

Twelfth EDCTP Forum (15-20 June 2025, Kigali, Rwanda) was a unique platform for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to advance global health through policy debates, scientific workshops and networking (EDCTP | Better healththrough globalresearch partnerships). JUA KIVU was well presented at this event as shown in the pictures below (photos taken from the Global Health EDCTP3 Newsletter, Twelfth EDCTP Forum by Global Health EDCTP3). Néhémie Nzoyikorera (National Public Health Institute of Burundi, Burundi) and Pacifique Ndishimye (Stansile, Rwanda) orally presented exciting new JUA KIVU results, while Bas Oude Munnink and Luca Zaeck presented posters.

We finally were able to meet in person with the whole JUA KIVU consortium. And in beautiful Kigali, Rwanda! One full day discussing results of the JUA KIVU project, and especially how we will continue to contribute to understanding and containing the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa.

Next up: GREATLIFE annual meeting and the EDCTP3 forum 2025 (EDCTP | Better healththrough globalresearch partnerships)