Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across 40 U.S. states from February to June 2020. (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Fuqing; Xiao, Amy; Zhang, Jianbo; Moniz, Katya; Endo, Noriko; Armas, Federica; Bushman, Mary; Chai, Peter R.; Duvallet, Claire; Erickson, Timothy B.; Foppe, Katelyn; Ghaeli, Newsha; Gu, Xiaoqiong; Hanage, William P.; Huang, Katherine H.; Lee, Wei Lin; McElroy, Kyle A.; Rhode, Steven F.; Matus, Mariana; Wuertz, Stefan; Thompson, Janelle; Alm, Eric J.
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 202(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: Wastewater surveillance -- SARS-CoV-2 -- United States -- Detection rate -- Spatiotemporal dynamics; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Highlights: Wastewater viral titers precede clinical COVID-19 surveillance data across the U.S. SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in wastewater is 80% when incidence is 13 per 100k people. SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in wastewater positively associates with catchment size. Wastewater surveillance shows a 62.7% consistency to clinical reported data. Abstract: Wastewater-based disease surveillance is a promising approach for monitoring community outbreaks. Here we describe a nationwide campaign to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of 159 counties in 40 U.S. states, covering 13% of the U.S. population from February 18 to June 2, 2020. Out of 1, 751 total samples analyzed, 846 samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with overall viral concentrations declining from April to May. Wastewater viral titers were consistent with, and appeared to precede, clinical COVID-19 surveillance indicators, including daily new cases. Wastewater surveillance had a high detection rate (>80%) of SARS-CoV-2 when the daily incidence exceeded 13 per 100, 000 people. Detection rates were positively associated with wastewater treatment plant catchment size. To our knowledge, this work represents the largest-scale wastewater-based SARS-CoV-2 monitoring campaign to date, encompassing a wide diversity of wastewater treatment facilities and geographic locations. Our findings demonstrate that a national wastewater-based approach to disease surveillance may be feasible and effective. Graphical Abstract: Image, graphical abstract