Georgia WWSCAN Biweekly Newsletter Update 8/16/24

Welcome to the bi-weekly update for WWSCAN partners in Georgia! The samples provided up through 8/13/24 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 65,000 and 610,000 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 within the upper third level of all concentrations measured in the last year. In the Southern region, SARS-CoV-2 is in the "High" wastewater category with a downward trend over the last three weeks.

As of 8/16/24, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the HIGH (7 sites) wastewater category. The Columbus site is in the MEDIUM (1 site) category.

Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater is available for RM Clayton and College Park (Camp Creek). Note that there was a gap in data for RM Clayton and College Park due to a pause in sample collection! 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, JN.1.16 (50.6%) and KP.2 (49.4%) made up the largest proportions of lineages detected at RM Clayton. KP.3 (47.8%) 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 Aug 3 at RM Clayton and College Park).

Sequencing data is now also available in aggregate across all sites in WWSCAN with sequencing data through Aug 3. That plot is shown below and suggests that KP.2 is the most abundant variant across all sites (37.4%).

Influenza A (IAV) RNA concentrations continue to be below 1,200 copies/gram in the last two weeks. According to the heat map below, IAV RNA was only detected at the South River site in the last couple of weeks.

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 at the bottom of the middle third level. As of 8/16/24, RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

H5 marker in Influenza A (IAV) Below is a heat map showing the Georgia sites with samples collected and tested thus far. All results thus far have been non-detect at all Georgia sites based on available data. For more information about this testing and interpretation of results, see our FAQ sheet here.

Influenza B (IBV) RNA has been non-detect at all Georgia sites within the last two weeks, according to the heat map below. As of 8/16/24, all Georgia WWSCAN sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA was detected at the South River site over the last two weeks, according to the heat map below. As of 8/16/24, all Georgia WWSCAN sites are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category.

HMPV (human metapneumovirus) RNA was detected at Big Creek, College Park, South River, and Utoy Creek in the last two weeks, based on the heat map below. RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category, as of 8/16/24.

EV-D68 RNA concentrations are below 20,000 copies/g over the last two weeks. There continues to be detections at each of the 8 Georgia sites ranging from lower to higher concentrations, according to the heat map below. As a reminder, the color blue means the sample was non-detect for EV-D68 RNA and the colors get darker orange with higher concentrations. As of 8/16/24, RM Clayton, South River, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, and Johns Creek are in the MEDIUM (6 sites) wastewater category. Utoy Creek and Little River are in the LOW (2 sites) category. This is consistent with higher levels of EV-D68 concentrations across the country.

Norovirus GII (HuNoV GII) RNA concentrations range between 150,000 - 4,000,000 copies/g, and the population-weighted average line when the data is normalized by PMMoV for the 8 Georgia sites is within the lower third level. HuNoV GII RNA chart below also shows the raw data. As of 8/16/24, South River and Camp Creek are in the MEDIUM (2 sites) wastewater category. RM Clayton, Utoy Creek, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (6 sites) wastewater category.

Rotavirus RNA concentrations have been below 30,000 copies/g over the last two weeks. The chart below shows data since September 2023, including the population-weighted average line is shown in black plus the raw data for each site. As of 8/16/24, Utoy Creek is in the MEDIUM (1 site) wastewater category. RM Clayton, South River, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (7 sites) wastewater category.

Mpox clade II DNA results have been non-detect at all Georgia sites in the last 21 days. This heat map shows data since July 2022. 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. RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Columbus, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (8 sites) wastewater category as of 8/16/24.

It is important to note in light of the public health emergency declaration this week for mpox that our testing only detects Clade II, and not Clade I mpox that has been implicated in the recent declaration.

Candida auris DNA has been detected at the Columbus site in the last two weeks, based on the heat map below. As of 8/16/24, Columbus is in the MEDIUM (1 site) wastewater category. RM Clayton, South River, Utoy Creek, College Park, Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the LOW (7 sites) wastewater category.

Hepatitis A RNA was detected at the RM Clayton and Johns Creek sites over the last two weeks, according to the heat map. As of 8/16/24, all Georgia WWSCAN 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

Newly published papers are available here

• Spatial and temporal variation in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subtype RNA in wastewater and relation to clinical specimens
• Detection of Hemagglutinin H5 Influenza A Virus Sequence in Municipal Wastewater Solids at Wastewater Treatment Plants with Increases in Influenza A in Spring, 2024
• Public health policy impact evaluation: A potential use case for longitudinal monitoring of viruses in wastewater at small geographic scales

Public Health 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.

New WastewaterSCAN Published Body of Work document:

• We are excited to share a new document that 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 stakeholder meeting will take place next week on Friday, September 13th @ 12 PM EST. You can use this zoom link to join. Hope to see you there!