WACKIEST

The WACKIEST project, officially known as the Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technologies, represents a pioneering effort in public health surveillance. By monitoring COVID-19 levels in wastewater across various sites in Kentucky, the project plays a crucial role in early detection and tracking of viral spread within communities. In collaboration with the UK Advanced Diagnostics Lab under the leadership of Dr. Scott Berry, the initiative utilizes state-of-the-art wastewater monitoring technologies.

After data is collected from these monitoring sites, it undergoes rigorous analysis through a specialized wastewater monitoring application developed for this purpose. This application serves a dual function: it processes and interprets the collected data, and automatically generates detailed report files. These reports are submitted to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), contributing to broader national and regional efforts in understanding the prevalence and distribution of COVID-19. By leveraging wastewater surveillance, the WACKIEST project enhances public health responses by providing early warning indicators and supporting evidence-based decision-making to mitigate the spread of the virus.