Coronavirus poop: University of Arizona (USA) identified potential outbreak from wastewater analysis
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousPoop against the coronavirus: the University of Arizona (USA) has identified a potential outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in the Likins Hall student residence from the analysis of wastewater, in which the presence of viral RNA has emerged. The swabs carried out later on the students actually resulted in two positives.
That wastewater was a potential tool for investigating the spread of the coronavirus epidemic was already known, as was the possibility that viral RNA lurks in people's feces even before more or less severe clinical signs appear.
In Arizona, student dormitory sewage contained viral RNA just days after the students, all of whom tested negative, moved into their rooms this month. At that point, however, the University re-examined all 311 residents and workers active in the dormitories, finding two students positive for the virus (asymptomatic), then activating all the quarantine / isolation procedures accordingly.
"If we waited for them to become symptomatic and stay in that dorm for days, weeks, or the entire incubation period, how many other people would have been infected?"Asked former surgeon Richard Carmona, now a faculty member at the University, during a press conference.
Great news, not just for the University of Arizona campus.
ISS: found traces of coronavirus in the wastewater of Milan and Rome, they are indicators of possible outbreaks
“This suggests that wastewater control is an excellent early warning system” spiega infatti al Washington Post Kevin Thomas, direttore dell’University of Queensland’s Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences.
This technique, as the scientist explains, has been used for years to check for other viruses, to evaluate the consumption of illegal drugs and to understand the socio-economic status of a community based on food consumption. And it's also great in this case because SARS-CoV-2 it remains in the faeces of subjects even in the very early stages of the infection.
Coronavirus: Almost half of patients experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea before a fever. I study
The process used is the same as that conducted with nasal swab tests, which involves concentrating the RNA fragments in the sample and then extracting and identifying the virus.
Since last August 27, the campus has recorded 46 positive results among more than 10.000 tests, but the students have only been on campus for a week. New cases in Arizona fell 25% last week, but it is now likely, and sadly inevitable, that there is an increase.
But perhaps in this way it will be possible intervene before outbreaks turn into fires.
Sources of reference: Sciencemag / The University of Arizona/Youtube / Washington Post
Read also:
- Traces of coronavirus found in Paris' non-potable waters (but no risk for potable ones)
- The coronavirus remains in the stool even with a negative swab. I study
