Italy: ‘Dangerous increase’ in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater of >30%

BA.5, Coronavirus, Europe, Health, Infection, Italy, Reinfection, Testing, Transmission, Wastewater

‘The national trend of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater showed a “dangerous increase” (>30%) in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in the weeks 24 and 25, 2022′.

  • As of week 25 of 2022 (26.06.2022), a total of 6.475 wastewater samples were collected throughout Italy in the framework of the SARS-CoV-2 environmental surveillance (EU Commission Recommendation 2021/472)
  • 6451 wastewater samples were analysed for SARS-CoV-2, and 87.2% of them were positive. 
  • The national trend of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater showed a “dangerous increase” (>30%) in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in the weeks 24 and 25, 2022 (period 13.06.2022 – 26.06.2022), compared to the previous weeks.
  • The same increasing trend was documented in most of the Regions/ Autonomous Provinces.
  • The observed significant increase of SARS-CoV-2 loads suggests a rise in the number of individuals excreting SARS-CoV-2, which is in agreement with the current new growth of Covid-19 cases, possibly in relation to the spread of the Omicron sublineage BA.5.

 

Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in urban wastewater in Italy

 

 

Italy: Lung function impaired by BA.5 infection

 

 

 

Image by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz from Pixabay

** This post was originally published on July 3, 2022 **