How Calgary's wastewater helped track COVID-19 — and could help fight future outbreaks
A University of Calgary team tracking the city's wastewater found sewage surveillance can serve as an early warning system for COVID-19 cases and outbreaks.
"We've demonstrated that we have a six-day leading indicator and we've been able to show that, at specific facilities like hospitals, we can predict outbreaks," said Kevin Frankowski, co-leader of the project with the U of C's Cumming School of Medicine.
"Basically we detect (outbreaks) as they occur, rather than having to wait for the clinical data to show up."
Researchers say the same testing can be used in the future, whether it be for flu season or another pandemic.
“Similar to how detectives look for DNA evidence at a crime scene, we’re looking for the RNA signal that the virus that causes COVID leaves behind in the wastewater,” Frankowski said.
“So we’re not looking for the virus itself. We’re looking for the genetic fingerprint that it leaves behind.”
The wastewater testing project just wrapped up a one year pilot in Calgary. Samples were taken at three hospitals, three wastewater treatment plants and in seven neighbourhoods.
"The wastewater testing really does offer an early warning signal," said Casey Hubert, another co-leader of the project and an associate professor in biological sciences.
“What we are sampling contains really valuable information from all the people who go to the bathroom in this region."
In the same way COVID-19 outbreaks in certain facilities or neighbourhoods were noticed early, cases such as polio or measles could be found by using wastewater monitoring as well. So could other public health concerns like nicotine and alcohol or drug use, researchers say.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.