Georgia WWSCAN Biweekly Newsletter Update 2/14/25

Welcome to the bi-weekly update for WWSCAN partners in Georgia! The samples provided up through 2/10/25 have been processed in the lab and data are on the site at data.wastewaterscan.org.

If you notice any bugs on the site or have any comments about it, please continue to send your feedback via email wwscan_stanford_emory@lists.stanford.edu. We thank you for your partnership!

For site level summaries of the GA plants with current Wastewater Categories and concentration plots, see the following links:

• Big Creek, Roswell, GA
• College Park, GA
• Columbus, GA
• Johns Creek, Roswell, GA
• Little River, Roswell, GA
• RM Clayton, Atlanta, GA
• South River, Atlanta, GA
• Utoy Creek, Atlanta, GA

The methods for our assays are in the public domain and links for these are provided at the end of the newsletter.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations have been between 47,000 and 500,000 copies/gram in the last two weeks. The chart below shows the raw data over the last 365 days and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV. The aggregated line and the National Levels benchmarks illustrate that SARS-CoV-2 N gene RNA concentrations among Georgia sites are in the middle third level of all concentrations measured in the last year. Levels at the Georgia WWSCAN sites are lower than concentrations seen in January 2024.

As of 2/14/25, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the HIGH (7 sites) wastewater category. RM Clayton is in the LOW (1 site) category.

Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater is available for RM Clayton and College Park (Camp Creek). The sequencing protocol is available on protocol.io. The plots below show the relative proportions of different variants inferred from sequencing the entire genome of SARS-CoV-2 (Note: the sequencing variant plots are now available on the website, so the plots that are shown below are linked above if you want to interact with them). Results are based on sequencing of 2 samples per week, combined to provide a weekly value.

In the most recent samples, the XEC (67.2%) variant made up the largest proportion of lineages detected at RM Clayton. The KP.3 (53.9%) variant made up the largest proportion of lineages detected at College Park. Note that the most recent data is shown below & should be updated as more samples are analyzed (through Jan 25 at RM Clayton and Jan 25 at College Park).

Sequencing data is now also available in aggregate across all sites in WWSCAN with sequencing data through Feb 1. That plot is shown below and suggests that the KP.3 variant (32.3%) and the XEC variant (30.8%) are the most abundant variants.

Influenza A (IAV) RNA concentrations recently peaked and are on the decline at Georgia WWSCAN sites. Concentrations are between 61,000 and 341,000 copies/g. The chart below shows the raw data, and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV are in the upper third level.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the HIGH (8 sites) wastewater category.

H1 Marker in Influenza A (IAV) has been detected at all 8 Georgia WWSCAN sites in the last two weeks. Concentrations are between 20,000 and 118,000 copies/g. Below is a chart showing trendlines calculated using a 5-day trimmed average for each site and a population-weighted aggregated trend line since monitoring for the H1 marker in influenza resumed in December 2024.

H3 Marker in Influenza A (IAV) has been detected at all 8 Georgia WWSCAN sites since we began testing for the marker prospectively in mid-July 2024, according to the heat map below. Concentrations are below 6,000 copies per gram.

H5 marker in Influenza A (IAV) Below is a heat map showing the Georgia sites with samples collected since we began testing for the marker prospectively in May 2024. For more information about this testing and interpretation of results, see our FAQ sheet here.

Influenza B (IBV) RNA has sporadically been detected at many of the Georgia WWSCAN sites in the last 2 weeks, according to the heat map below.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA has frequently been detected across Georgia WWSCAN sites over the past couple of weeks with RSV RNA concentrations between 6,000 and 56,000 copies/g. The chart below shows the raw data, and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV is in the upper third level. Levels peaked in December 2024.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the HIGH (8 sites) wastewater category.

HMPV (human metapneumovirus) RNA has been detected at many of the Georgia WWSCAN sites in the last two weeks (except RM Clayton, and Utoy Creek), based on the heat map below. Concentrations are between ND (non-detect) - 24,000 copies/g.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

EV-D68 RNA has not been detected at Georgia WWSCAN sites in the last two weeks. In the heat map below, the color blue means the sample was non-detect for EV-D68 RNA.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Norovirus GII (HuNoV GII) RNA concentrations range between 11,000,000 - 51,000,000 copies/g, and the population-weighted average line when the data is normalized by PMMoV for the 8 Georgia sites is in the middle third level. HuNoV GII RNA chart below also shows the raw data.

As of 2/14/25, South River, Camp Creek, South Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, Little River, RM Clayton, and Utoy Creek sites are in the HIGH (8 sites) wastewater category.

Sites are labeled in the rows and each date a sample was collected as a column. The color blue means the sample was non-detect for mpox DNA and the color maroon means mpox DNA was detected. White indicates no sample was collected.

Mpox clade II DNA has been detected at a Georgia WWSCAN site in the last two weeks, based on the heat map below. Specifically, it has been detected in the Big Creek site. Mpox clade II DNA was also detected at the College Park site on January 28th.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Mpox clade Ib DNA has not been detected in the last two weeks, according to the heat map below, which shows data since January 2025.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Candida auris DNA has not been detected at a Georgia WWSCAN site in the last two weeks, based on the heat map below.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Hepatitis A RNA has been detected in the last two weeks, according to the heat map. Specifically, it has been detected at the RM Clayton and South River sites.

As of 2/14/25, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Protocols (Pre-analytical methods and SARS-CoV-2 analytical methods including controls):

• High Throughput RNA Extraction and PCR Inhibitor Removal of Settled Solids for Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
• High Throughput pre-analytical processing of wastewater settled solids for SARS-CoV-2 RNA analyses
• Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations (HV69-70, E484K/N501Y, del156-157/R158G, del143-145, LPPA24S, S:477-505, and ORF1a Del 141-143) in settled solids using digital RT-PCR
• High Throughput SARS-COV-2, PMMoV, and BCoV quantification in settled solids using digital RT-PCR

Pre-prints and peer-reviewed publications provided WWSCAN methods: 

• SARS-CoV-2 
• Influenza, Human metapneumovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Human parainfluenza
• Mpox
• Norovirus GII
• Adenovirus group F, Rotavirus, Candida auris, Hepatitis A
• Enterovirus D68

WastewaterSCAN FAQs:

• Frequently Asked Questions on WWSCAN Measurements of H5 Marker in Wastewater Solids
• Frequently Asked Questions on WWSCAN Measurements of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) RNA in Wastewater Solids
• Frequently Asked Questions on Measurements of Candida auris (C. auris) in Wastewater Solids

WastewaterSCAN Factsheets:

• Influenza A Fact Sheet: Provides a summary of a November 2023 paper exploring how to analyze wastewater data to extract relevant public health insights on Influenza A. Click here to access the IAV fact sheet.
• RSV Fact Sheet: Provides a summary of a March 2024 paper exploring how to analyze wastewater data to extract relevant public health insights on RSV. Click here to access the RSV fact sheet.

WastewaterSCAN Published Body of Work document:

• This provides an overview of the program’s peer-reviewed scientific literature, organized by topics and themes. Click here to access the WastewaterSCAN published body of work.

The next WastewaterSCAN stakeholder meeting will take place at 12pm ET on March 14, 2025. You can use this zoom link to join. Hope to see you there!