BMC study of sewage for Covid-19 hits a glitch

The BMC is testing sewage water to see the prevalence of the Covis-19 virus in the community. File pic/Ashish Raje

To understand the prevalence of the Covid-19 virus in the community, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been conducting RT-PCR tests on sewage in Mumbai. So far around 15 per cent samples have been found positive. However, the positivity was too low to go for genome sequencing.

A senior official from the BMC health department said, "Around 600 samples were collected and out of them 50-60 samples tested positive. We have asked NIV to send more samples to us for genome sequencing."

A senior microbiologist from a civic-run hospital said, "One can find virus and bacteria present in sewage water by testing it, because of the presence of human body waste in it. By doing genome sequencing we will come to know a particular strain present in the community. It is a type of survey that will be indirect evidence of an impending outbreak. It will also help identify places where there is a prevalence of the virus."

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, "We have taken positive samples from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) but the positivity is too low to go for genome sequencing. So we have asked NIV to collect more samples for which BMC is also providing its resources. We will also collect samples from across pumping stations, dumping grounds, hospitals, and the main sewage line across the city."