COVID-19 is in Tacoma’s sewers. Testing them will prepare us for future outbreaks, scientists say
BY ALLISON NEEDLES
APRIL 21, 2020 05:10 AM, UPDATED 8 HOURS 29 MINUTES AGO
Tacoma sewage being tested for COVID-19
Tacoma’s sewage is being tested for COVID-19, and positive results have already been found. The virus can’t survive in that environment but researchers at RAIN Incubator say that this could be a tool to help determine “hot spots” during an outbreak. BY DREW PERINE
Tacoma’s sewage is being tested for COVID-19, and positive results have already been found. The virus can’t survive in that environment but researchers at RAIN Incubator say that this could be a tool to help determine “hot spots” during an outbreak. BY DREW PERINE
Scientists in Tacoma believe they’ve found a way to track COVID-19, and the answer lies in the sewer system.
Earlier this month, researchers at biotech nonprofit RAIN Incubator were given permission to test samples of raw sludge at Tacoma’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant for the virus.
So far, they’ve tested about 40 samples at their lab in downtown Tacoma, and sure enough — COVID-19 was there.
Read more here: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article242041431.html#storylink=cpy
Reposting with formatting
[COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adolescents].
[Article in German]
Streng A1, Hartmann K1, Armann J2, Berner R2, Liese JG1.
Author information
Abstract
Background:
The clinical knowledge about the course, complications and treatment of COVID-19 in children and adolescents is so far limited.
Aim:
This systematic review summarizes the current scientific evidence regarding the clinical presentation of COVID-19 in hospitalized children based on available case series from China. In addition, first data from a nationwide pediatric hospital survey conducted by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI) are presented.
Methods:
This study evaluated 12 case series from China with 6-2143 children infected with SARS-CoV which were identified by a literature search in PubMed up to 31 March 2020. The database of the German nationwide DGPI COVID-19 survey was accessed on 6 April 2020.
Results:
The median patient age in the case series was between 2 and 7 years and 18-45% were infants <1 year of age. The duration of hospital stay was 5-20 days. Most commonly reported symptoms were fever and cough; in 40-100% of cases involvement of the lower respiratory tract was reported, usually confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Severe and critical courses of disease were reported in up to 8% of the children including 2 fatalities. So far the German DGPI COVID-19 survey reported 33 hospitalized children up to 6 April 2020, mostly with upper airway infections. Of these children, 45% were infants and 32% had an underlying medical condition. So far 3 children (9%) needed admission to an intensive care unit.
Conclusion:
COVID-19 in hospitalized children usually presented as an uncomplicated febrile upper airway infection or mild pneumonia. Severe cases or fatalities rarely occurred in children. Information on neonates and children with underlying chronic conditions as well as on therapeutic and preventive measures are urgently needed.
© Der/die Autor(en) 2020.
KEYWORDS:
Acute respiratory tract infection; Coronavirus; Pediatric; Pneumonia; SARS-CoV
PMID:32317808PMCID:PMC7171916DOI:10.1007/s00112-020-00919-7