To Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
To better understand how COVID-19 spreads, researchers from Santa Clara County and Stanford University are looking to human waste as a source of information to better understand the disease.
This new study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, identifies a method that not only detects the virus in wastewater samples, but also tracks whether infection rates are increasing or decreasing.
Measuring wastewater is a solid source of data as those infected eliminate the virus in their feces, which could be used to track more receptively and to supplement critical information from health officials.
According to the report's lead co-author, Alexandria Boehm, who is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, the test works by identifying and measuring genetic material in the form of SARS-VOC-2 RNA, the virus that causes VOC-19.
"This work confirms that trends in SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater follow trends in new infections in the community. Wastewater data complement clinical trial data and may provide additional information on infections.
Alexandria Boehm
While the U.S. is struggling with record daily transmission rates, getting more information to track the surge and inform public health policy in local communities remains key to controlling the virus.
The study highlights that COVID-19 can be particularly difficult to trace, as many asymptomatic or mild cases go undetected. And those who are tested may still spread the infection before receiving the results, inhibiting rapid identification, treatment and isolation to slow the spread.
So faster identification of case peaks could allow local officials to act more quickly before the disease reaches a point where transmission becomes difficult to contain and hospitalizations overwhelm the local health system.
Monitoring of COVID-19 through RNA surveillance of sewage is gaining momentum across the country, and could alert decision makers to potential outbreaks days before people recognize the symptoms of the virus.
It is worth mentioning that the county is working with Stanford University, the San Jose Department of Environmental Services and four wastewater treatment plants to analyze the waste.
