Milwaukee highlights wastewater disease tracking as VA lists new upgrades; RSV pressure eases statewide
Milwaukee, WI – March 3, 2026 – City health officials spotlight wastewater testing for measles-era readiness as VA upgrades and RSV eases statewide.
Wastewater surveillance in focus for outbreak readiness
The City of Milwaukee Health Department is highlighting its ability to test wastewater for infectious diseases, a step officials described as useful when respiratory viruses and measles concerns are in the public spotlight. Spectrum News 1 reported the city lab can test for influenza A and B, RSV, and COVID-19, and can also process and prepare samples that are sent to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for measles and other pathogens.
The samples come from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Jones Island and South Shore water reclamation facilities. The report noted that results are shared with local health experts and added to a public-facing dashboard, with the aim of giving clinicians and health systems earlier warning about rising activity that could affect emergency department volume and supplies.
Milwaukee VA announces facility improvement projects
In a Feb. 27 press release, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center outlined a set of infrastructure projects it said are intended to support safe and effective patient care. The list includes renovation work for a Women’s Clinic, replacement of a mental health emergency generator and switchboard, steam tunnel repairs, upgrades tied to electronic health record modernization, replacement of operating room dumbwaiters, lightning protection installation, safety corrections recommended by The Joint Commission, and upgrades to magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
RSV trends ease pressure on hospitals, experts say
Wisconsin hospitals are seeing relief after difficult recent RSV seasons, according to a Wisconsin Public Radio report published by Urban Milwaukee on Feb. 26. The story said RSV activity is down for a second winter in a row, with experts pointing to broader access to immunizations as a possible factor. The report cited Wisconsin Department of Health Services surveillance data indicating that, for the week ending Feb. 14, fewer than 8% of tests were positive for RSV.
Children’s Wisconsin recognized at statewide advocacy event
The Wisconsin Hospital Association said Children’s Wisconsin received its Advocacy All-Star Award at WHA’s annual Advocacy Day event held Feb. 25 in Madison. WHA also reported that about 1,100 advocates attended the event, with hospital representatives discussing policy issues affecting health care access and hospital operations statewide.
Sources
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2026/03/02/milwaukee-tests-wastewater-for-infectious-diseases-
https://www.va.gov/milwaukee-health-care/news-releases/milwaukee-va-upgrades-health-care-infrastructure/
https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2026/02/26/after-brutal-rsv-seasons-wisconsin-hospitals-see-relief/
https://www.wha.org/news/press-releases/2026/children%E2%80%99s-wisconsin-receives-wisconsin-hospital-association%E2%80%99s-advocacy-all-star-award
https://www.wha.org/news/press-releases/2026/wisconsin-hospital-association-advocacy-day-draws-1100-advocates-from-across-wisconsin
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
