Science

Virus DNA in sewers may keep people from getting sick

Virus DNA in sewers may keep people from getting sick
Scientists could get an early warning of impending outbreaks, using viruses' DNA to detect their increasing numbers in wastewater
Scientists could get an early warning of impending outbreaks, using viruses' DNA to detect their increasing numbers in wastewater
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Scientists could get an early warning of impending outbreaks, using viruses' DNA to detect their increasing numbers in wastewater
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Scientists could get an early warning of impending outbreaks, using viruses' DNA to detect their increasing numbers in wastewater

When a virus such as the flu is going around, the earlier it's detected, the better prepared that health agencies can be. It's with this in mind that scientists at Stanford University are pursuing an idea. They're proposing doing analyses of communities' wastewater to detect rises in the amount of viruses passed by residents, identifying the microbes based on their DNA.

The idea is that municipalities would regularly analyze their raw sewage stream, checking the liquid for the DNA of pathogens that have gone down the toilet. An increase in those levels would indicate that an outbreak was about to begin, before people actually started reporting symptoms. This would allow preparations to be made and warnings to be issued, that much earlier.

A team led by Prof. Craig Criddle is about to begin testing the feasibility of such a system, by analyzing the sewage at a plant that treats waste generated by approximately 7,000 people in the Stanford community. Needless to say, some challenges are anticipated.

For one thing, the automated sampling system will have to compensate for the fact that the volume of waste varies greatly depending on the time of day. Additionally, waste flushed farther up the line will be much more diluted than that introduced closer to the plant, so levels of viruses in it may be appear to be lower than is actually the case.

Nonetheless, Criddle believes that the proof-of-concept model will ultimately be effective.

"We can understand things that are happening to the community and take measures to address those concerns, whatever they may be, in a more timely way than would have been possible otherwise," he says.

Source: Stanford University

4 comments
4 comments
MartinVoelker
My neighbor, a PhD environmental engineer, designs municipal water treatment plants. She reports that the workers who inspect underground sewage pipes - the big ones where you can walk through - almost never get sick, and speculates it's because their immune system is hardened by constant low level assaults.
guzmanchinky
Fascinating concept. I love gizmag, I mean newatlas!
ljaques
A simple and fascinating idea. I hope it's quickly and inexpensively latched upon and put into service ASAP.
Titus
Disease analysis for a group, medication for a group of people? Who likes that idea? Technical maybe interesting project, social practicality very limited.