Testing wastewater helps epidemiologists see the place COVID-19 is spreading and what variants are dominant.
COLORADO, USA — Whereas we’re all used to getting clues about how and the place COVID-19 is spreading by issues like testing, the state has one other great tool – our bathrooms.
The COVID scenario right here in Colorado is among the worst within the nation proper now. We all know instances, hospitalizations and the positivity price are all going up. Now, epidemiologists are additionally discovering extra COVID in wastewater.
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“We’re seeing our wastewater surveillance mirror what we’re seeing in our human sickness,” mentioned Rachel Jervis, an Epidemiologist with the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Setting (CDPHE). “When somebody has COVID, we’ve discovered that slightly below 50% of individuals with COVID shed COVID of their stool no matter whether or not or not they’ve signs.”
The state’s wastewater testing exhibits excessive charges of COVID practically in all places, from Fort Collins to Denver and right down to Pueblo. Jervis mentioned it’s been going up because the summer season.
“By testing wastewater we are able to establish how a lot COVID there’s in a group with out having to depend on people looking for medical care and getting examined,” mentioned Jervis.
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CDPHE has been testing wastewater for COVID for a lot of the pandemic. They will inform which variant is spreading most within the state.
Proper now, Jervis it’s practically all Delta variant being flushed down the drain in waste. The state is able to take a look at wastewater shifting ahead to see if different variants pop up in Colorado.
“We’re trying on the wastewater to see what genetic markers point out what variants,” Jervis mentioned. “What we’re seeing in that wastewater is loads of the Delta variant. Then the human case information is matching that. Viruses mutate and we anticipate to see completely different variants. Whereas we’re all the time monitoring and searching in human specimens for that, wastewater provides us one other alternative to search for that.”
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Proper now, CDPHE companions with 21 sewer sheds to check the wastewater up and down the entrance vary.
The well being division mentioned it’s hoping to accomplice with extra water utilities going ahead to check extra wastewater across the state.
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