South Africa: Wastewater Surveillance Is an Early-Warning System for Covid-19 Outbreaks

analysis

Research sampling carried out by the Water Research Commission has found very high levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human faeces in water downstream of wastewater treatment plants. This is a critical tool in predicting outbreaks and monitoring infection levels.

In July, we wrote and recommended in Daily Maverick on South Africa needing a Covid-19 wastewater and water-quality surveillance programme. This was after the Water Research Commission (WRC) and Salga partnership's May launch of the water quality (wastewater and non-sewer) national surveillance programme aimed to complement national initiatives in dealing with the pandemic.

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