Covid-19 has been detected in sewage, so what does this really mean?

the Covid-19 the spotlight is on Taranaki, with health officials urge anyone with symptoms virus, or anyone who has recently returned from Australia be tested.

The test blitz comes after ESR has detected a positive result for Covid-19 in New Plymouth sewage this week. A follow-up sewer sample also gave a positive result on Friday evening.

In a statement released on Saturday, the health ministry said the two positive results on wastewater detected in Taranaki could be due to recently recovered cases that continue to shed the virus, or could report undetected cases in the community.

The Institute for Environmental Science and Research (ESR) undertakes regular analysis of wastewater across the country as an additional monitoring tool for Covid-19.

READ MORE:
* Covid-19: Ministry of Health says anyone with symptoms in Taranaki should get tested
* Covid-19 NZ: positive result detected in sewage in New Plymouth
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* Explanator: The science behind Covid-19 found in Wellington’s wastewater

What is the wastewater test?

Talk to ThingsProfessor Nick Wilson of the Public Health Department at the University of Otago Wellington said wastewater testing is widely used around the world and “is proving to be an additional and useful monitoring tool”.

Wastewater analysis started here in April 2020, with the aim of giving an early warning of epidemics or a additional monitoring tool.

Science has been developed since with a test in November 2020, and ESR now performs regular wastewater testing at several sites in New Zealand, including major cities across the country.

Samples are processed in the ESR laboratory in Wellington, and checked for accuracy.

How are virus fragments detected?

The analysis of wastewater is rather sensitive and can detect virus fragmentsWilson said. People previously infected with the virus who have passed through MIQ and are no longer contagious, may still have virus fragments in their bodies.

Once they use the bathroom, it’s possible that samples taken from a city’s sewage could detect these fragments, which Wilson says may be. what is happening in Taranaki.

“This has indeed happened a number of times in the past in New Zealand, ”he said. Wilson added that this means the surveillance system is working as it should.

Why testing is so important

In its statement on Saturday, the ministry said the positive sewage results could come either from recently recovered cases continuing to shed the virus or from undetected cases in the community.

In order to determine if there are any undetected cases, the ministry recommends that all people with symptoms of Taranaki get tested, as well as all newcomers from Australia who find themselves in Taranaki – even though these newcomers are symptom-free.

Test capacity has been increased at New Plymouth to meet potential demand.

“There is a chance, every time you get a positive result, that it reflects community transmission, and that is why it is very wise for the Ministry of Health to encourage the people of Taranaki, if they are showing symptoms. , to get tested, ”Wilson said. .

“But based on past experience and the fact that this is not in a place where we would normally expect an outbreak to start in New Zealand – because there are no MIQ facilities or there is no international airport – it is very likely that this represents fragments of infectious virus.

Wilson said it is good to be careful and have people with symptoms of Taranaki get tested to help rule out the possibility that it is a true infection.

Another wastewater sampling was carried out on Saturday and these results were expected on Monday.

Although the sailors aboard the Playa Zahara and Viking Bay ships recently docked at Port Taranaki, New Plymouth, the dates of their brief visits and crew activity do not appear to be a factor in the sewage detections, the ministry said.

Additional tests are underway for a small number of port workers and nurses, who have come into possible contact with the sailors. All test results to date are negative with two pending results.

Tips for those in Taranaki

Anyone with symptoms compatible with Covid-19 should call Healthline (0800 358 5453) for advice on how to get tested.

Anyone in Taranaki who is showing symptoms is encouraged to get tested, as well as anyone with symptoms who has recently visited the area.

All recent arrivals from Australia who show symptoms are encouraged to request a test. Anyone who has recently been to Australia and is now in Taranaki is also urged to get tested – even if they have no symptoms.

People who have it recently been to Australia should continue to check the state sites for place of interest Like new Pitches continue to be identified.