SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: potential health risk, but also data source
Authors: Willemijn Lodder, Ana Maria de Roda Husman
Journal: The Lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology (2020)

Since the first publications reporting the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in faeces,1Holshue ML DeBolt C Lindquist S et al.First case of 2019 novel coronavirus in the United States.N Engl J Med. 2020; 382: 929-936Crossref PubMed Scopus (4278) Google Scholar it became clear that human wastewater might contain the novel coronavirus. From Feb 17, 2020, onwards, we took 24-h 10 L samples once a week from human wastewater collected at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands) for virus analyses. Samples tested positive for virus RNA by quantitative RT-PCR methodology 4 days after the first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were identified in the Netherlands on Feb 27, 2020 (unpublished data). This could be explained by virus excretion from potentially symptomatic, asymptomatic, or presymptomatic individuals passing through the airport. Furthermore, human wastewater sampled near the first Dutch cases in Tilburg, Netherlands, also tested positive for the presence of viral RNA within a week of the first day of disease onset (unpublished data).2RIVMNovel coronavirus found in wastewater.https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/novel-coronavirus-found-in-wastewaterDate accessed: March 28, 2020Google Scholar These findings indicate that wastewater could be a sensitive surveillance system and early warning tool, as was previously shown for poliovirus.3Lodder WJ Buisman AM Rutjes SA Heijne JC Teunis PF de Roda Husman AM Feasibility of quantitative environmental surveillance in poliovirus eradication strategies.Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012; 78: 3800-3805Crossref PubMed Scopus (57) Google Scholar To our knowledge, this detection in the Netherlands is the first report of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Whether SARS-CoV-2 is viable under environmental conditions that could facilitate faecal–oral transmission is not yet clear. However, evidence exists of potential community spread, with the virus spreading easily and sustainably in the community in some affected geographic areas such as China.4Liu J Liao X Qian S et al.Community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Shenzhen, China, 2020.Emerg Infect Dis. 2020; (published online March 3.)DOI:10.3201/eid2606.200239Crossref Scopus (505) Google Scholar A case has also been reported in the USA in which the individual had not been exposed to anyone known to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and had not travelled to countries in which the virus is circulating.5Ng Y Li Z Chua YX et al.Evaluation of the effectiveness of surveillance and containment measures for the first 100 patients with COVID-19 in Singapore—January 2–February 29, 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69: 307-311Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar Potential enteric transmission also has implications for those working with human waste and wastewater, for whom WHO guidance has been developed specifically in relation to COVID-19. Overall, the provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygienic conditions can offer protection from any infectious disease, including COVID-19. Enteric transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is possible and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater could pose a health risk. But environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 could serve as a data source, indicating if the virus is circulating in the human population. Previously, this tool has been successfully applied for preclinical identification of Aichi virus.6Lodder WJ Rutjes SA Takumi K de Roda Husman AM Aichi virus in sewage and surface water, the Netherlands.Emerg Infect Dis. 2013; 19: 1222-1230Crossref PubMed Scopus (78) Google Scholar The possibility of faecal–oral transmission of COVID-19 has implications, especially in areas with poor sanitation where diagnostic capacity might be limited, such as Africa. Wastewater surveillance, especially in areas with a scarcity of data, might be informative, as we have previously shown in monitoring antibiotic resistance on a global scale.7Hendriksen RS Munk P Njage P et al.Global monitoring of antimicrobial resistance based on metagenomics analyses of urban sewage.Nat Commun. 2019; 101124Crossref PubMed Scopus (528) Google Scholar AMdRH is Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Risk Assessment of Pathogens in Food and Water. WL and AMdRH declare no competing interests.