April 29, 2020

First detection of SARS-COV-2 in untreated wastewaters in Italy

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

• Several studies support use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to assess viruses circulating in a given community.  Rosa et al tested twelve influent sewage samples from Wastewater Treatment Plants collected in high (Milan) and low (Rome) epidemic circulation in Italy, reporting that 6 out of 12 samples tested positive. This study further supports potential use of WBE as a sensitive tool to monitor spatial and temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in the population.

Rosa et al. (April 29, 2020). First detection of SARS-COV-2 in untreated wastewaters in Italy. Pre-print downloaded Apr 29 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.25.20079830