About Outbreak Radar

Real-time disease surveillance powered by CDC wastewater data

What Is Outbreak Radar?

Outbreak Radar is a free public health dashboard that maps disease activity across the United States in real time. Using data from the CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), we plot viral concentrations at over 700 monitoring sites nationwide — giving communities an early warning signal before illness spreads.

Unlike dashboards that rely on people visiting doctors and testing positive, wastewater surveillance catches disease activity at the population level — whether or not individuals seek care. It is one of the most complete, unbiased public health signals available today.

How It Works

Every week, wastewater treatment plants across the US collect influent samples and test them for viral genetic material. When people are infected with COVID-19, influenza, RSV, or measles, they shed viral RNA in their waste — often days before they feel sick enough to see a doctor.

The CDC aggregates these readings through the NWSS program. Outbreak Radar pulls that data, normalizes it using PMMoV (Pepper Mild Mottle Virus — a plant virus present in human waste at stable baseline levels), and converts each reading into a percentile score based on that site's full historical range. The result is a dot on the map sized by how active a disease is relative to that site's own history — not just its raw concentration.

What We Track

• COVID-19 — coronavirus wastewater levels across 700+ US sites
• Influenza A (Flu) — seasonal flu activity from fall through spring
• RSV — respiratory syncytial virus, critical for parents of infants and older adults
• Measles — especially relevant during the ongoing 2025–2026 resurgence

We monitor CDC data releases for additional pathogens. Norovirus wastewater surveillance is under active CDC development and we will add it when available.

Who It's For

• Parents — check RSV and flu levels before school events or travel with young children
• Travelers — see disease activity at your destination before you go
• Older adults and immunocompromised individuals — make informed decisions about gatherings
• Schools and employers — monitor trends to plan for staffing and attendance
• Public health professionals and journalists — a fast visual overview of national surveillance data

Data Source and Update Schedule

All data comes from the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS). Data is updated weekly, typically on Fridays, as monitoring sites submit samples. Outbreak Radar automatically selects the most recent week where at least 75% of sites have reported, so you always see a complete national picture.

Accuracy and Limitations

• Geographic gaps: Not all counties have monitoring sites. Rural areas are underrepresented.
• Site-level data: Each dot represents a treatment plant's catchment area, not an individual neighborhood.
• Lag time: Data typically reflects conditions from 1–2 weeks prior to publication.
• Not case counts: Wastewater concentration is a trend signal, not a confirmed case count.

Contact

Questions, press inquiries, or partnership opportunities: hello@outbreakradar.com