New Updates to Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard: City of Milwaukee Health Department Adds Flu and RSV to Public Tracking

MILWAUKEE – The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) has expanded its public wastewater dashboard to include influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), alongside COVID-19. Launched in January 2024, this dashboard tracks illness trends using wastewater data to help detect early signs of community spread—just in time for the holiday season when families and friends are gathering.

“By tracking RSV and flu alongside COVID-19, we’ve added another layer of protection for Milwaukee residents,” said Mike Totoraitis, PhD, MHD Commissioner of Health. “These updates provide timely data to help people protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The dashboard features:

• Trendlines showing changes in virus levels over time.
• Stoplight warning system (green, yellow, red) for quick updates on concern levels.
• Data from MMSD’s South Shore and Jones Island sampling sites.

“Expanding the dashboard to include RSV and influenza is an exciting step for our lab,” said David Payne, PhD, MHD Laboratory Director. “It highlights the power of wastewater testing and partnerships like ours with MMSD to advance public health.”

To view the wastewater dashboard, visit: city.milwaukee.gov/coronavirus/Wastewater-Dashboard.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.