Georgia WWSCAN biweekly update 7/21/2023

Welcome to the bi-weekly update for WWSCAN partners in Georgia! The samples provided up through 7/19/23 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 Amanda Bidwell at albidwel@stanford.edu. We thank you for your partnership!

SARS-CoV-2 N gene RNA concentrations range between 20,000 and 160,000 copies per gram. Click on each chart to further interact with a chart on data.wastewaterscan.org. The dark gray line in the chart below is a population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV. There is additional information on the methodology behind this trend line available here in the "How are aggregated trendlines determined?" section. This chart shows the national levels, and you can see that the average levels have slightly decreased. More details can be found under the "How are national levels determined?" section here.

Early in 2023, WWSCAN started testing for XBB* and these results are available to view by selecting 'SARS-CoV-2 View by Variant' on data.wastewaterscan.org. For Georgia sites, data dates back to early February 2023. The ratio of the XBB* mutations/N across all Georgia plants is shown in the chart below. As the ratio reaches 100%, it suggests that all the SARS-CoV-2 genomes in wastewater have the XBB* mutations. These estimates have not changed much since our last update, and data indicate that the average ratio XBB* mutations/N is ~75% but has ranged from 40-100% recently. This suggests the majority of infections across the communities are caused by XBB*. The next chart below shows the ratio of the BA.5, BA.4, and BQ* mutation/N across all Georgia plants. It can be read the same way as the XBB* chart. The average ratio is close to 0%. Note that our XBB* assay will also detect XBB.1.16, XBB.1.9, and FD.2 (XBB.1.5.15.2*). Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations across all 8 Georgia sites shows no significant trend. This can be interpreted to mean that over the last 21 days, concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 have generally not changed at most sites.

Influenza A (IAV) RNA continues to be detected sporadically. In the last two weeks, IAV RNA was only detected in samples from Johns Creek and Utoy Creek, as shown in the heat map below. The analysis of IAV concentrations shows no significant trend over the last 21 days at all Georgia sites.

Influenza B (IBV) RNA is similarly sporadic within the past two weeks. IBV RNA was only detected in samples collected  Little River.

RSV RNA detection in the wastewater at Georgia sites has been sporadic, as shown in the heat map below. There were detections at College Park and Johns Creek over the last couple of weeks. Additionally, analysis of RSV concentrations shows no significant trend over the last 21 days at all Georgia sites.

HMPV (human metapneumovirus) RNA concentrations are low and the regional average line is around the non-detect level. Concentrations are consistently less than 2,000 copies/g. Analysis of HMPV concentrations shows no significant trend over the last 21 days at all Georgia sites.

Norovirus GII (HuNoV GII) RNA concentrations range from 250,000 - 8,000,000 copies/g. The analysis of HuNoV GII concentrations across the 8 Georgia sites shows no trend at most sites over the last 21 days except Little River and Big Creek, which have seen a significant downward trend.

Results are non-detect for mpox at Georgia plants. 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 colors get darker with higher concentrations.

The next stakeholder meeting will take place Friday, August 11th @ 12 PM EST. We hope to see you there!