LOS ANGELES, May 12 (Xinhua) -- An innovative disease detection program has identified the measles virus in Houston's wastewater days before official cases were confirmed, offering a promising early warning system amid a nationwide surge in measles infections, according to a newly-published study.

The surveillance program, developed by researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine, the School of Public Health at University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston, the Houston Health Department and Rice University, detected the measles virus in wastewater samples collected on Jan. 7 from two Houston water treatment facilities serving more than 218,000 residents.

Confirmed measles cases in two travelers residing in the same area were reported on Jan. 17, underscoring the program's high sensitivity in identifying potential outbreaks before clinical detection.

The researchers detected the virus using a sequencing-based approach, a highly sensitive and specific method that analyzes genetic material. This strategy might have broad implications for public health, particularly as a sentinel surveillance system to detect viruses before widespread outbreaks occur, according to the study, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The findings are relevant and timely as measles cases are increasing in Texas and the rest of the country, and the study offers a promising strategy to get ahead of potential outbreaks, said the researchers. ■