The daily number of new infections shows that the current corona wave is increasing. However, according to wastewater analyses, the wave is much larger than the number of cases indicates. Virus load data from samples from 108 sewage treatment plants show that the true number of infections is much higher.
The actual number must be at least one and a half times higher than that of the proven cases. “The wave is clearly bigger than the numbers indicate,” microbiologist Heribert Insam of the University of Innsbruck told the “Kurier”. He is project manager of the SARS-CoV-2 school site surveillance Austria. This is being carried out in 108 sewage treatment plants in the catchment area, of which there are more than 3000 school sites.
“Incidents don’t tell us the truth”
Currently, people with symptoms mainly test themselves. “Therefore, the incidents do not show us the truth, but currently lead to a gross underestimation of the infection process,” explains Insam. Because infected people without symptoms also excrete virus fragments that end up in the wastewater.
According to the expert, the contamination of the wastewater with viral RNA is clearly in the area of the delta wave in the autumn. However, Delta had a more severe course of the disease. The currently dominant ommicron subvariants BA.4/BA.5 are in turn more infectious.
Only 24 systems from fall
According to “Kurier”, the school monitoring will end at the end of August, leaving only 24 sewage treatment plants as part of the Ministry of Health’s wastewater survey. However, microbiologist Isam was confident that there were good conversations and that the tests would continue.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
