Japanese researchers confirm Covid-19 testing in sewers as possible outbreak warning system


A water sample being taken from a sewer by hydrographers in Melbourne on May 19, 2020.- AFP

TOKYO (Reuters): Japanese researchers confirmed the presence of the coronavirus in wastewater plants, a finding that could serve as a signal for future outbreaks.

The study tested water from four treatment plants in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures in western Japan. Out of 27 samples, 7 were positive for the Sars-CoV2 virus, according to a preprint of a study by Toyama Prefectural University, Kanazawa University and Kyoto University.

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Japan , covid-19 , second wave , sewer

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