Houston, TX Health Department tests wastewater for COVID-19 and identifies Omicron outbreaks

Houston, TX testing wastewater for COVID-19 outbreaks

In Progress

The Houston Health Department and Houston Water routinely test the city's wastewater for the virus that causes COVID-19 and recently started testing samples for the Omicron variant. Residents infected with COVID-19 shed the virus in their feces and the wastewater data is used to quickly identify outbreaks and target interventions to stop the spread. The wastewater samples revealed Omicron at eight of the city's 39 wastewater treatment plants before the first confirmed case.

Data Public Safety Health & Human Services Wastewater Outbreak / COVID

Houston, TX

Municipality in Texas

United States

Newsworthy

Testing sewage for omicron helps communities get ahead of the variant : Shots - Health News : NPR

Scientists have identified the new coronavirus variant in wastewater in a few U.S. cities. This type of surveillance can help communities stay a step ahead of omicron's spread.

Omicron variant detected in Houston’s wastewater, Houston Health Department reports

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