Research Project Outline
Current measures against the spread of infectious diseases transmitted via water circulation system are vulnerable, and bring social unrest to those who desire for securing safe water. Our goal is to establish a new water monitoring system, WaterWatch, to reduce the number of infectious gastroenteritis patients which amounts to 5,600,000 cases every year. We will develop rapid, highly precise and exhaustive detection methods for pathogens in the water environment. By frequent monitoring of urban wastewater with the new detection methods, warnings can be issued immediately after the transmission of infectious diseases. With the WaterWatch system, we expect the number of infectious gastroenteritis patients be significantly reduced, because it helps us to take immediate response in order to control the spread of infectious diseases before the diseases become prevalent.