Abstract:
Wastewater-based epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in wastewater is desirable
for understanding COVID-19 in settings where financial resources and diagnostic facilities for mass
individual testing are severely limited. We conducted a rapid review to map research evidence on
the utilization of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance in Africa. We searched PubMed, Google
Scholar, and the World Health Organization library databases for relevant reports, reviews, and
primary observational studies. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis of the
findings from included primary studies revealed the testing methodologies utilized and that detected
amount of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA correlated with the number of new cases in the studied areas.
The included reviews revealed the epidemiological significance and environmental risks of SARSCoV-2 wastewater. Wastewater surveillance data at the community level can be leveraged for the
rapid assessment of emerging threats and aid pandemic preparedness. Our rapid review revealed a
glaring gap in the primary literature on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance on the continent, and
accelerated and adequate investment into research is urgently needed to address this gap.
