indiaUpdated: Jun 24, 2020 23:25 ISTTraces of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), have been found in sewage samples in Gujarat, prompting a central agency to consider strengthening surveillance and study whether contaminated sewage can cause infection. Only Gujarat has so far reported the presence of the virus in sewage, “and we need to see if other states also report it,” the official added. NCDC, which spearheads all disease surveillance projects in the country, along with its partners, began sewage sample testing around April. “Confirmation of infectious virus in faeces affirms the potential for faecal–oral or faecal–respiratory transmission and warrants further study,” the paper said. Infectious virus was also isolated from urine of a patient with severe COVID-19.

Source: Hindustan Times June 24, 2020 17:48 UTC