Country takes CoV wastewater analyzes into its own hands
timeline
Wastewater analyzes provide a very precise picture of the CoV situation. This is particularly important when – as is currently the case – only a few people are being tested. In the future, these CoV wastewater analyzes will be evaluated in Vorarlberg and no longer in Innsbruck. For this purpose, the environmental institute in Bregenz is to be technically upgraded by 70,000 euros.
Wastewater analyzes from sewage treatment plants provide a very precise picture of the current CoV infection situation. And that’s why the state government is now taking this evaluation into its own hands. From December, the state environmental institute will regularly test wastewater from six Vorarlberg sewage treatment plants for Covid-19 viruses. So far this has been done in Innsbruck. In order to carry out the wastewater monitoring, the environmental institute will be technically upgraded by a total of 70,000 euros.
Wastewater monitoring based on CoV data
As fewer and fewer people get infected with CoV, the data obtained from wastewater becomes increasingly important. This analysis method is now to be expanded in Vorarlberg.
The tests are very informative, explains Fabian Amman from the Research Center for Molecular Medicine. “In an average sewage treatment plant, we can traditionally detect around two cases that carry a special variant and are eliminated. This means that if we have two cases in the catchment area of a sewage treatment plant, we have a very good chance of seeing them in the wastewater as well,” says Amman.
Virus mutations can also be read out
But not only the number of infected people can be read from the water, but also new virus mutations. The scientific findings are put into practice in the Vorarlberg Environmental Institute. “We have translated the research results into a monitoring program. The instrument is intended to provide decision-makers with additional information,” says Christoph Scheffknecht from the Vorarlberg Environmental Institute.
Other diseases can also be diagnosed
In the future, however, completely different diseases could also be evaluated. Approaching waves of influenza could then be recognized as well as very rare diseases, such as polio. “This information would be very important for paediatricians. If they know that polio is circulating in the community, they can expect a child to come along with the symptoms,” Amman explains.