Monitoring changes in COVID-19 infection using wastewater-based epidemiology: A South African perspective.

ABSTRACT: Monitoring of COVID-19 infections within communities via wastewater-based epidemiology could provide a cost-effective alternative to clinical testing. This approach, however, still requires improvement for its efficient application. In this paper, we present the use of wastewater-based epidemiology in monitoring COVID-19 infection dynamics in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, focusing on four wastewater treatment plants for 14 weeks. The SARS-CoV-2 viral load in influent wastewater was determined using droplet digital PCR, and the number of people infected was estimated using published models as well as using a modified model to improve efficiency. On average, viral loads ranged between 0 and 2.73 × 10⁵ copies/100 ml, 0-1.52 × 10⁵ copies/100 ml, 3 × 10⁴

SUBMITTER: Pillay L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8062404 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature