{"id":292868,"date":"2021-01-25T17:36:27","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T07:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=292868"},"modified":"2021-01-27T09:02:16","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T23:02:16","slug":"more-virus-detected-in-sewage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/01\/25\/more-virus-detected-in-sewage\/","title":{"rendered":"More Virus Detected In Sewage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Queensland\u2019s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 25, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fragments of COVID-19 have been detected in sewage at seven more sites in Queensland.<\/p>\n

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said viral fragments of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – have been detected at wastewater treatment plants at Caboolture South, Oxley Creek, Bundamba, Gibson Island, Luggage Point, Maryborough and Pulgul (Hervey Bay).<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this does not mean we have new cases of COVID-19 in these communities, we are treating these detections seriously,\u201d Dr Young said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA positive sewage result means that someone who has been infected was shedding the virus. Infected people can shed viral fragments and that shedding can happen for several weeks after the person is no longer infectious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI continue to urge anyone who feels unwell in these communities to get tested and isolate.<\/p>\n

\u201cSymptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the past four weeks, viral fragments have been detected at 26 wastewater treatment plants in Queensland: Bundaberg, Bundamba, Cairns North, Cannonvale, Capalaba, Carole Park, Cleveland Bay, Coombabah, Elanora, Gibson Island, Goodna, Loganholme, Luggage Point, Mackay South, Maryborough, Merrimac, Mount St John, Nambour, Pimpama, Pulgul, Redcliffe, Rockhampton South, Stanthorpe, Wacol, Warwick and Wynnum.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all wastewater treatment plants are part of the surveillance program.<\/p>\n

According to Queensland Health,\u00a0locations for sample collection have been chosen to represent larger population centres, popular holiday towns and some communities close to the border with NSW.<\/p>\n

UPDATE January 26:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Fragments of COVID-19 have been detected in sewage at more sites: Condon (Townsville), Cairns South, Cairns Marlin Coast, Maroochydore\u00a0 and Yeppoon.<\/p>\n