New coronavirus detected in sewage
Publication date 03/25/2020 | 12:00
The new coronavirus (SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome -CoV coronavirus -2) has been found in Dutch sewage. This is evident from research by the RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. Some patients with COVID-19 have the new coronavirus in their stools. That feces ends up in the sewer via the toilets. The research shows that monitoring of sewage water is a good method for diagnosing viral infections in infected people. Wastewater workers are protected against the virus if they adhere to hygiene regulations.
The new corona virus with DNA deoxyribonucleic acid techniques has been demonstrated in wastewater in Amsterdam, Tilburg and at the sewage treatment plant that also purifies the wastewater from Loon op Zand. A weekly sampling of waste water at Schiphol started on 17 February. The new coronavirus was not detected in these samples for the first two weeks. However, in the wastewater of March 2, 9 and 16, molecular detection methods were able to detect the genetic material of the virus. This was four days after the first person in the Netherlands had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Wastewater was also sampled in Tilburg on 3, 10 and 17 March. Genetic material of the virus has been detected on all days. This was also within the first week after the first patients tested positive from February 27. Waste water was tested at the sewage treatment plant in Kaatsheuvel on 3 and 18 March. This installation purifies, among other things, the waste water from Loon op Zand, where the first reported COVID-19 patient lives in the Netherlands. The new coronavirus was not found in the sample taken on March 3, but the genetic material of the virus could be detected in the sample taken on March 18.
RIVM previously demonstrated the same technique with norovirus, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, polio virus and measles virus in wastewater.
Protective measures
Previous research has shown that the protection measures for people who work with wastewater do not only protect against the known pathogens. These measures also work against the new corona virus. People working with wastewater should avoid direct contact with and swallowing and / or inhalation of wastewater mist. This means that they must wear personal protective equipment that suits the work. Think of protective outer clothing, gloves, boots, safety glasses, mask and / or face protection-FFP3. All these measures to work safely with waste water are in the Working Conditions Catalog of the water boards (opens in a new window). In addition, wastewater workers must observe hand hygiene and do not touch eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. And wash everyone's hands before eating and after every toilet, and sneezing or coughing in the elbow.
COVID-19
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak in China in December 2019, the first patient in the Netherlands was tested positive on February 27, 2020. Some of the COVID-19 patients have diarrhea. And the new coronavirus is detected in feces in some of the infected individuals.
Publication date 03/25/2020 | 12:00
The new coronavirus (SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome -CoV coronavirus -2) has been found in Dutch sewage. This is evident from research by the RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. Some patients with COVID-19 have the new coronavirus in their stools. That feces ends up in the sewer via the toilets. The research shows that monitoring of sewage water is a good method for diagnosing viral infections in infected people. Wastewater workers are protected against the virus if they adhere to hygiene regulations.
The new corona virus with DNA deoxyribonucleic acid techniques has been demonstrated in wastewater in Amsterdam, Tilburg and at the sewage treatment plant that also purifies the wastewater from Loon op Zand. A weekly sampling of waste water at Schiphol started on 17 February. The new coronavirus was not detected in these samples for the first two weeks. However, in the wastewater of March 2, 9 and 16, molecular detection methods were able to detect the genetic material of the virus. This was four days after the first person in the Netherlands had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Wastewater was also sampled in Tilburg on 3, 10 and 17 March. Genetic material of the virus has been detected on all days. This was also within the first week after the first patients tested positive from February 27. Waste water was tested at the sewage treatment plant in Kaatsheuvel on 3 and 18 March. This installation purifies, among other things, the waste water from Loon op Zand, where the first reported COVID-19 patient lives in the Netherlands. The new coronavirus was not found in the sample taken on March 3, but the genetic material of the virus could be detected in the sample taken on March 18.
RIVM previously demonstrated the same technique with norovirus, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, polio virus and measles virus in wastewater.
Protective measures
Previous research has shown that the protection measures for people who work with wastewater do not only protect against the known pathogens. These measures also work against the new corona virus. People working with wastewater should avoid direct contact with and swallowing and / or inhalation of wastewater mist. This means that they must wear personal protective equipment that suits the work. Think of protective outer clothing, gloves, boots, safety glasses, mask and / or face protection-FFP3. All these measures to work safely with waste water are in the Working Conditions Catalog of the water boards (opens in a new window). In addition, wastewater workers must observe hand hygiene and do not touch eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. And wash everyone's hands before eating and after every toilet, and sneezing or coughing in the elbow.
COVID-19
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak in China in December 2019, the first patient in the Netherlands was tested positive on February 27, 2020. Some of the COVID-19 patients have diarrhea. And the new coronavirus is detected in feces in some of the infected individuals.
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