The UK’s highly contagious variant is spreading rapidly across Houston, Texas, a new analysis has found.
On Monday, the Houston Department of Health revealed that the variant, known as B.1.1.7, was found in more than three quarters of the city’s sewage stations in samples collected on February 22.
This is 47 percent greater than the number of plants that the strain was detected just two weeks earlier.
The analysis was conducted just a week before Governor Greg Abbott’s order that the state end the mask’s mandate and allow companies to reopen fully in Texas on March 10.
“The prevalence of the UK variant in our wastewater shows that it is actively spreading in our city,” said Dr. David Persse, medical director for the city of Houston, in a statement.
“This is yet another clear indication that we must continue to mask, practice social detachment, wash our hands, get tested and, where possible, be vaccinated.”
A new analysis on February 22 found traces of the highly contagious variant in the UK in 79% of Houston’s wastewater treatment plants, or 31 out of 39. That’s an increase from February 8, when the variant was found in samples from 21 of the stations, about 47%
Of the sewage samples tested in the last analysis, approximately one fifth had the variant, known as B.1.1.7. In the photo: aerial view of a water treatment plant in the southern Texas area, south of Houston.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 101 cases of the UK variant are in Texas. Of those cases, a preprinted paper found at least 23 is in Houston
Wastewater analysis – bathroom water that passes through a drainage system to a treatment facility – has been used for years to track a range of public health problems.
Sewage surveillance is currently used in several countries to monitor poliovirus circulation, including Israel and India. It is also used in several cities in Europe to track the spread of opioids.
The researchers found that infected people release viruses, or viral genetic material, into urine and faeces.
Scientists believe that this surveillance system could provide a better estimate of how far the disease is spreading, because it would include people who have mild symptoms or none at all.
In fact, the virus can be detected in the stool three days after infection, that is, before most people develop symptoms.
The Houston Department of Health and Houston Water began testing the city’s wastewater in May 2020 to better identify outbreaks.
The analysis was conducted on February 22, when authorities collected samples of wastewater from 39 plants in the city.
The results showed that the samples from 31 of the plants had traces of B.1.1.7., Indicating their presence in 79 percent of the installations.
This is an increase from the analysis carried out two weeks earlier, on February 8, which found the variant in samples from 21 of the treatment plants, about 47 percent.
Of the wastewater samples collected on February 22, about 19% detected the United Kingdom variant.
“I am concerned about this new data on the UK virus strain in Houston, especially at a time when the state of Texas is facilitating measures that have been proven to reduce transmission and ultimately save lives,” said the mayor. from Houston, Sylvester Turner, in a statement.
This refers to restrictions on coronavirus being loosened in Texas under the order of Greg Abbott as of Wednesday.
Coronavirus can be detected in feces three days after infection, which is before most people show symptoms, as B.1.1.7 continues to spread throughout the United States
Tuner continued: ‘Despite the mixed messages, this is a clear indication that it is too early to stop demanding masks in public places. I urge all Houstonians to continue to mask themselves to protect their families and community. ‘
The Houston Department of Health is testing wastewater samples in an effort to track other highly transmissible variants.
Among them are variants from South Africa, Brazil and California, but the results are still pending.
Last week, a Houston Methodist pre-printed study found cases of all variants, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, New York and California, in the city – the first in the country to do so.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 101 cases of the UK variant are in Texas. Of those cases, the newspaper found at least 23 in Houston.
