Topline
Fragments of Covid-19 can be successfully detected in sewage, providing an early warning mechanism for disease outbreaks and a useful means of identifying large outbreaks of asymptomatic carriers, the British government said on Friday.
Fragments of Covid-19 can be detected in sewage
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Key Facts
A government-led project, which was first launched in June, has now confirmed that fragments of Covid-19 genetic material can be detected in sewage.
The government said it is sharing the information with NHS Test and Trace — England’s contact tracing system — and local authorities, who can prepare for an increase in cases and encourage greater care and more testing.
The project is already a success, with sewer data identifying a spike in Covid-19 cases in one region despite there being relatively low numbers of people seeking tests.
With this early success, the project has already been rolled out to cover around 22% of England’s population, with plans to expand in the future.
Though fragments of Covid-19 can be detected in sewage, the WHO says the likelihood of contracting the disease through the sewer system is extremely low.
Key Background
There are now a number of studies documenting traces of Covid-19 in waste water, with early ones signalling the potential of this finding to track infections across a geographic area. The early successes of the English project highlight this potential, particularly in identifying otherwise hidden outbreaks.
Crucial Quote
Environment Secretary George Eustice said the findings are a “significant step forward in giving us a clearer idea of infection rates… particularly in areas where there may be large numbers of people who aren’t showing any symptoms.”
Further Reading
Sewage can reveal COVID outbreaks, UK project finds (Reuters)
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Source: Forbes – Business
