Wastewater-based Surveillance on SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater is being tested at selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Germany as part of AMELAG (“Abwassermonitoring für die epidemiologische Lagebewertung”, German for wastewater monitoring for epidemiological situation assessment). Data from 169 WWTPs are currently included in the analyses for SARS-CoV-2 and 113 for Influenza A Virus and Influenza B Virus. For the calendar week 50 data from 135 WWTP were available for SARS-CoV-2 and from 80 WWTPs for Influenza A Virus and Influenza B Virus. Data from other WWTP are provided continuously. Currently, no clear trend can be observed in the aggregated viral load. The values for influenza A and B viruses are currently in the low range, but exhibit a steadily increasing trend within the last weeks. The development observed over the last few weeks may still change due to late notifications, especially from WWTP with large population coverage.