Early results from Michigan’s COVID wastewater monitoring project are promising

Early results from a Michigan project to monitor levels of COVID-19 in wastewater show promising results.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today released preliminary results from four of the counties and one of the universities participating in a statewide surveillance program for COVID-19 virus in wastewater.

From early October to late November, the virus was detected in 100% of 18 samples taken from a site in Genesee County, 100% of 25 samples from a site in Marquette County, and 100% of six samples from a site in Macomb. County. At five sites in a single community in Manistee County, the virus was detected in 48.6% of 35 samples collected.

In general, the researchers said that detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater from these sites initially appears to reflect documented transmission within individual sites and communities.

Related: Detroit Expands Wastewater Testing to Predict COVID-19 Spikes

In addition, most sampling sites detected an increasing trend in the amount of virus present in samples collected from October to November.

Fifteen universities across the state are participating in the pilot project and using environmental wastewater monitoring in their response to COVID-19 on campus. For example, the University of Michigan is collecting samples from nine campus buildings and had positive detections at seven of those sites this fall. Of those samples, 17.7 percent, or 39 of 220 samples, were positive for the virus.

“These early results are promising for the area of ​​COVID-19 wastewater monitoring in Michigan,” said Sarah Lyon-Callo, director of the MDHHS Office of Epidemiology and Population Health. “This project has demonstrated the feasibility of this laboratory method and local partnerships for a longer term wastewater monitoring system. Participating laboratories continue to adjust their methods to produce the most reliable results, and state and local public health agencies are beginning to interpret the data and incorporate the results into public health responses as appropriate.

Related: UM: ‘Peecycling’ good for the environment when used city-wide

MDHHS said the data currently cannot be used to determine the total number of people infected in a community or the percentage of the population infected. Nineteen laboratories across the state of Michigan participate in a standardized and coordinated network of COVID-19 wastewater monitoring systems.

Monitoring wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus can provide an early warning sign of the presence of disease in a community. This virus is excreted in human faeces, including in people who are infected but not sick or have not yet become ill, and can be detected in sewage for up to seven days before infections lead to increased blood loss. clinical cases. A significant increase in the virus detected in sewage over time can show that cases may increase in a community.

This type of surveillance can be used to detect possible outbreaks in communities and collective living centers, such as college dorms and long-term care facilities, before clinical cases are identified. In the future, local public health agencies may use this wastewater surveillance data, along with corresponding clinical case data, to inform public health decisions to prevent further spread within a community. community.

Wastewater monitoring can also be useful in assessing future vaccination efforts. The State of Michigan is fortunate to have internationally renowned scientific leaders in this field in multiple state institutions.

This project only monitors the SARS-CoV-2 virus in sewage and wastewater, not in drinking water. It is important to note that there is no risk that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will be detected in properly treated drinking water from regulated drinking water treatment plants or properly installed and maintained private wells. .

Check out the EGLE COVID-19 wastewater monitoring map here.