Viral Respiratory Illness

Anne Arundel County Data Request

This form is designed to request public health data about Anne Arundel County. Data sources include the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland COVID-19 Data Dashboard, and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health's internal data.

Wastewater Surveillance Program

The County’s Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, monitors all seven county-operated wastewater treatment plants for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Influenza A and B, and RSV. Infected individuals can shed the viruses in their feces, allowing detection in community sewage systems.

Wastewater surveillance captures virus presence regardless of symptoms, healthcare access, or testing availability, providing an early community spread indicator for COVID-19, flu, and RSV in Anne Arundel County.

Samples are collected twice weekly and sent to the CDC for testing under the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS). The CDC’s methodology is used to determine virus activity levels.

Health Impact Monitoring

The COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level tracks the virus's impact on health and healthcare capacity, classifying risk as low, medium, or high.

"Wastewater surveillance does not depend on people having access to healthcare, people seeking healthcare when sick, or the availability of testing."

Author's summary: Wastewater surveillance offers an effective, early method to monitor respiratory viruses in Anne Arundel County, independent of traditional testing and healthcare access.

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Anne Arundel County Health Department — 2025-11-06