LAST YEAR, as the world was inching closer to the possibillity of returning to normality after fighting the pandemic for two long years, the emergence of Omicron, with its 32 mutations on the spike protein, dampened all hope. The US was among the first few countries to ban travel from South Africa, which first reported the COVID-19 variant, and its neighbouring nations. Despite its efforts, the US on December 1 reported its first case of Omicron through clinical testing.
However, just a few days later, a routine wastewater surveillance being conducted by the US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that Omicron may have been present in the country well before being reported in December. The surveillance provided a clear snapshot of the spread of the variant in California, Colorado, New York City (New York) and Houston (Texas).
Sewage samples collected from these areas between November 21 and December 16 showed that "the detection of Omicron-associated mutations in community wastewater provides strong early evidence that the Omicron variant was likely present or more widely distributed in these communities than originally indicated by clinical testing," says CDC. The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), established by CDC in September 2020, collects over 34,000 samples every day, representing an estimated 53 million American citizens. "These data are uniquely powerful because they capture the presence of infections from people with and without symptoms, and they are not affected by access to healthcare or availability of clinical testing," Amy Kirby, program lead for NWSS, said in a media report in early February.
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Esta historia es de la edición April 16, 2022 de Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara