International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
As seen throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, improper preparation and intervention measures can have devastating effects on human lives, as well as stunt long-term social and economic development. The pandemic put an immense strain on global health systems and disrupted the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in economically disadvantaged groups, widening the inequality gap within and across countries. Infectious diseases, like those caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can spread swiftly from person to person, making rapid pathogen detection a necessity to prepare for future outbreaks and prevent these disastrous outcomes.
One major route for early pathogen detection is wastewater monitoring. Infected individuals can shed pathogens through their bodily fluids, skin, hair, and stool long before they develop any symptoms, making wastewater a valuable resource for disease surveillance. Monitoring wastewater for disease-causing bacteria and viruses can provide regionally-specific data about pathogen blooms to public health units, sounding an early warning of disease outbreaks and allowing appropriate intervention measures to be implemented ahead of time. Having the appropriate resources and personnel to handle community outbreaks reduces the risk of the disease spreading to a national or even global level.
However, current PCR testing can take up to 3 days to detect pathogens. Due to the fast-spreading nature of infectious diseases, these delays in pathogen detection can have significant consequences. If outbreaks cannot be identified and contained in the early stages, the disease may progress to a large-scale epidemic or pandemic, leading to devastating economic loss and severe health implications.
KRAKEN real-time pathogen detection device
In response to this issue, Kraken Sense has developed the KRAKEN, a real-time pathogen detection device that can autonomously monitor wastewater for infectious bacteria and viruses. With continuous sampling and results available in just 30 minutes, disease outbreaks can be identified and minimized immediately. Kraken Sense is currently working with Public Health Canada and Toronto Pearson Airport to detect specific strains of pathogens in local wastewater, providing health authorities with a clear picture of emerging disease threats arriving into the country.
About Kraken Sense
Kraken Sense develops all-in-one pathogen detection solutions to accelerate time to results by replacing lab testing with a single field-deployable device. Our proprietary device, the KRAKEN, has the ability to detect bacteria and viruses down to 1 copy/mL. It has already been applied for epidemiology detection in wastewater and microbial contamination testing in food processing, among many other applications. Our team of highly-skilled Microbiologists and Engineers tailor the system to fit individual project needs. To stay updated with our latest articles and product launches, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, or sign up for our email newsletter. Discover the potential of continuous, autonomous pathogen testing by speaking to our team.