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| José Ballesta: "This system will allow us to know how the infection evolves in each neighborhood, make decisions, evaluate the efficiency of those already implanted and even anticipating new outbreaks "| The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, reported today that “Murcia will combat the coronavirus through a new system for tracking wastewater, through the collection of samples in the sewage network of neighborhoods and districts most punished in this moment for the pandemic ”.Specifically, the first neighborhoods in which Aguas de Murcia will carry out this pioneering experience are San Andrés and El Carmen.

These two neighborhoods are framed within three specific sanitary zones: San Andrés, Barrio del Carmen (from Calle Cartagena to El Royo) and Floridablanca (from the garden of Floridablanca to El Infante).

Today the first sample was taken in one of the sewers near Avenida Infante Juan Manuel, where the wastewater from Carmen goes."In this way, we will be able to carry out a real follow-up that will allow us to know how the infection evolves in each neighborhood and, even anticipate new outbreaks, since as we know the PCR or antibody tests are done in people who manifest symptoms, it is that is, a very limited percentage of the population, while through the sanitation network we will be able to measure the viral trace of the total population, contrasting both parameters to determine the cumulative incidence of positive CRP with respect to the total population ”, José Ballesta explained.In this sense, he added that “the results are obtained in a period between 24/48 hours, which is a great advantage in this type of study, since it allows observing the evolution and trend of the pandemic over the time of so that decisions can be made or the efficiency of those already implemented can be evaluated ”.Sampling and analysis planIn total, 76 samples will be collected in 9 manholes in the two neighborhoods.

The experience will take place over two months (eight weeks), with weekly sampling.The wastewater samples will be contrasted with the epidemiological data received by the Health Service of the Murcia City Council, making the decisions deemed appropriate at all times, based on the recommendations of the health authorities.For this, the sanitation network has been studied, taking the entry and exit points of the neighborhood's wastewater.

The first two neighborhoods in which the sample collection will take place will be the Barrio del Carmen and San Andrés."Before the month of May, positive intakes began to be registered in the wastewater from the Murcia Este treatment plant, which collects 80% of the wastewater from the entire municipality.

The months of June and July the shots began to be negative.

However, already before the current outbreak, positive samples were detected again, increasing the levels of Covid in the wastewater throughout the month of September ", indicated the Murcian councilor.Analysis of thousands of parameters and detection of 3 virus genesFor sampling in sewers, Aguas de Murcia has a discharge control brigade that analyzes millions of parameters daily.In the case of coronavirus traceability in water, the sample will be analyzed following a specific protocol for the concentration of the virus, performing the RNA extraction and reaction using the RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique, using for this a real-time thermal cycler.

The system allows the detection of 3 different genes of the virus, therefore it offers high specificity.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia