Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Epidemiological Surveillance using Anti-influenza Drugs Detected in Sewage Influent

Abstract

In this study, the number of influenza patients treated with anti-influenza drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir during the influenza outbreak seasons in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 in Kyoto district was estimated by monitoring drug concentrations in influent at sewage treatment plants. The results were positively correlated with values estimated by the Pharmacy Surveillance Institute of the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center in the National Institute of Infectious Disease, Japan. Our estimation method of the number of influenza patients has the potential to be used as a tool for epidemiological surveillance of other infectious diseases.