Data Description:
- Data are updated weekly.
- Each dot on the map represents a wastewater site. A site can represent all or part of a sewershed, which is the geographic area contributing wastewater to a sampling location. Sewersheds may cross county or state boundaries.
- Samples from some sites are tested for mpox virus at different laboratories that may use different collection and testing methods. These sites have more than one dot on the map with the same sewershed number followed by a different letter. These sites may have different detection categories for the different dots.
- Not all communities report wastewater data to CDC. Participation is voluntary. Wastewater samples are collected from sewer systems, so communities that rely primarily on septic systems are not represented.
Dot Locations:
Data are plotted in the ZIP code of the sampling location, so dots on the map do not correspond exactly to sampling locations.
Data Sources:
Data are from the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS).
Laboratory Methods:
Mpox virus in wastewater is detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) tests. Different laboratories may use different testing methods. For general information about testing methods, please visit CDC’s Wastewater Surveillance Testing Methods webpage. This webpage provides information on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing methods, which are similar to mpox wastewater testing methods.
