Testing sewage to Map Covid spread
- February 25, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Testing sewage to Map Covid spread
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: A model developed by Kerala-born microbiologist settled in Sydney, in March last year has been adopted across Australia for its testing of waste-water to locate fragments of SARS-CoV-2 and thus detect hidden cases within the broader community.
Concept:
- The model works on premise of person infected with coronavirus will start ‘shedding’ the virus within three-four days through his faeces (The ‘shedding’ can also occur while coughing, showering, sneezing or brushing one’s teeth.).
- Such virus fragments, travelling through toilets and sewer pipes, end up in sewage treatment plants. Sample taken from sewage treatment plants in a specific catchment gives result of presence of virus in community even before symptom shows up.
- It has been seen to have high sensitivity, and high economic potential with testing equivalent to testing large number of people and containing spread in initial stages.
- The model was result of a research programme, Collaboration on Sewage Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (ColoSSoS) launched by Water Research Australia (WRA).