Oregon Health Authority has announced the launch of a statewide COVID-19 wastewater monitoring project to study the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in more than 40 small-to-medium-sized communities around the state. Most of the project will be carried out by Oregon State University researchers, which will include weekly wastewater testing over the next 30 months. Projected to enable epidemiologists to better understand the circulation of COVID-19 in some of Oregon’s communities, and used as an “early warning” system to tell if COVID-19 is spreading silently in communities.

“This program holds promise to help us monitor COVID-19 in our communities,” said Melissa Sutton MD, MPH, Medical Director for Respiratory Viral Pathogens at OHA and a principal investigator for the wastewater study. “We look forward to our partnership with local communities and researchers. Together we hope to better understand the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon.”

Funding for this program comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, CDC states on their website that the data of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the virus that causes COVID-19 found in untreated wastewater, is limited. “There is little evidence of infectious virus in wastewater, and no information to date that anyone has become sick with COVID-19 because of exposure to wastewater.”

“Septic (i.e., onsite wastewater) systems and community wastewater systems play important roles in sanitation and disease prevention by removing harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites.”

“There is no evidence showing anyone has gotten COVID-19 through drinking water, recreational water, or wastewater. The risk of COVID-19 transmission through water is expected to be low.”

Michigan performed a three-month pilot on wastewater testing. Scientists watch for upticks in the amount of virus in the waste, and can alert local health departments to head-off a potential surge.

At the University of Arizona, similar testing allowed the university to figure out not only which dorm coronavirus cases were coming from, but the two students that were positive.

CDC indicates there is a low probability of finding data, so why are they funding such projects and what is Oregon’s reason for targeting small to medium size communities? Does OHA have the authority to create trigger points for more shutdowns in defenseless communities without their consent?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-17 09:04:57