By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) say that when the Omicron variant arrived on our shores it was first detected in the City of Cape Town.
Dr Mongezi Mdhluli, leader of the SAMRC Wastewater Surveillance & Research Programme, said it was detected in the wastewater system.
“This is the first report of the Omicron variant being detected in the City of Cape Town’s wastewater system, this was in majority of wastewater treatment plants tested in the city.”
According to Mdhluli, the initial detection was on November 23 at the airport.
“We have also detected Omicron in a series of wastewater samples collected from the Cape Town International Airport. Our data at this stage show that Omicron was first detected at there on the 23rd of November 2021.
“Individuals with Covid-19 are known to shed the viral remains in their faeces, but these fragments are not infectious.”
He explains that 92% of samples came back positive with Omicron.
“We found the Omicron variant in 11 of 12 (92%) samples of wastewater collected from Cape Town treatment plants on 30 November 2021. The Delta variant remained dominant in only one wastewater treatment plant tested.”
Mdhluli added that how Omicron spread to areas outside of Cape Town is not known.
“The extent to which the Omicron variant has spread to rural areas outside the City of Cape Town is not known; however, genetic sequencing undertaken on a sample of wastewater collected from the rural town of Rawsonville in the Breede Valley (Western Cape) indicated the absence of Omicron.
“This does not necessarily reflect that Omicron is not being transmitted in these areas.”
SAMRC President and CEO, Professor Glenda Gray, said that more than ever, it is crucial that everyone gets vaccinated, and also adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions (wearing of masks, stringent hand hygiene, keeping to a distance of at least 1.5 metres from others and avoiding crowds. “Essential gatherings should preferably be held outdoors, or in very well-ventilated indoor spaces), as this is one of the ways to curb the transmission of COVID-19 during the coming festive season. We therefore advocate for fellow South Africans to vaccinate before vacation.”
Read the Surveillance Prorgamme here: SAMRC Wastewater Surveillance Programme.