Virus RNA found in sewage samples
- The detection of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage samples has raised the possibility of using environmental water surveillance to monitor virus activity in infected areas, researchers have said.
- Similar environmental surveillance for the poliovirus had played a critical role in the eradication of wild poliovirus globally.
- Published recently in the Indian Journal of Medical Research paper, titled “SARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage samples: standardization of method and preliminary observations” researchers claimed to have undertaken the study to standardize the methodology for detection of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage and explore the feasibility of establishing supplementary surveillance for COVID-19
- They suggested that SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater could be used to understand the epidemiology of COVID19. “Decreasing concentration or absence of virus at previously SARSCoV2positive sewage sampling sites may indicate successful implementation of COVID-19 control strategies and it may provide evidence of the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2infected populations and confirmation of COVID-19 free zones
- The study, conducted by ICMR National Institute of Virology, (Mumbai unit) and Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR, Delhi, said the virus was also detected in stool samples of patients, indicating active infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
- For the study, sewage samples were collected from six sites in Mumbai.
Source: The Hindu
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