Biobot, the Cambridge company monitoring Boston-area COVID wastewater, will start tracking norovirus

The Cambridge-based biotech company that has been monitoring COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Boston-area will now start to track norovirus in sewage to help communities respond to outbreaks, the firm announced on Wednesday.

Local communities throughout the COVID pandemic have closely followed the virus wastewater data, which has helped predict coronavirus waves.

By now monitoring wastewater for norovirus, Biobot Analytics said the company can provide key information about disease levels and trends, so communities can quickly respond to mitigate outbreaks.

Norovirus cases are at an all time high. As the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., the highly contagious stomach bug costs the economy about $2 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare expenses. About 20 million people are sickened each year.

Norovirus cases at the state and local level aren’t reported to the CDC, resulting in larger data gaps when compared to other illnesses, such as COVID.

“Norovirus rates continue to be at a yearly high across the country,” said Mariana Matus, CEO of Biobot Analytics. “Wastewater monitoring provides equitable and inclusive data that can help public health officials prepare and respond more effectively to outbreaks.

“Currently, the CDC doesn’t require norovirus case reporting, so we are relying on a subset of voluntarily provided data, resulting in larger knowledge gaps about levels of disease than with other pathogens,” Matus added. “By monitoring wastewater for norovirus, we can begin to fill in these gaps and provide important information about disease levels and trends, so communities can make informed public health decisions.”