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Wastewater

All articles tagged with #wastewater

local3 days ago•27 min saved

Bangor measles signal from wastewater prompts vaccination push

A wastewater sample from Bangor tested positive for measles, confirmed last week, with a follow-up sample testing negative days later; officials say they do not know where the infected person resided or traveled. The Maine CDC is urging healthcare providers to screen for measles and reminding the public that vaccination is the best protection. The agency had previously confirmed five measles cases in Penobscot County in February, with no new cases announced since.

via WGME|

#bangor #local #maine-cdc

health3 days ago•5 min saved

Summer uptick in US COVID-19 cases signals a familiar seasonal pattern

COVID-19 cases are rising across the United States in a recurring summer wave, with 47 states showing growth and wastewater data indicating higher virus levels; experts say seasonality, indoor behavior, and waning immunity drive the pattern, while severe illness remains relatively low and vaccination, testing, ventilation, and precautions for vulnerable people are advised.

via USA Today|

#covid-19 #health #immunity

health-and-wellness6 days ago•7 min saved

Wastewater signals Boise COVID-19 uptick as schools reopen

Boise-area wastewater data shows an upward trend in COVID-19 levels as students return to school, suggesting a possible surge. Health officials note that the fall-winter respiratory season can strain hospitals and emphasize staying up to date with vaccines, getting tested, and continuing preventive measures. Emergency visits for COVID-like symptoms have been low recently, but past seasons have seen spikes, underscoring the ongoing importance of vigilance.

via Idaho Statesman|

#back-to-school #boise #covid-19

science-and-medicine11 days ago•12 min saved

California braces for a summer COVID surge as vaccines adapt

California health officials say COVID-19 activity is rising again this summer, with a larger peak than last winter and increasing wastewater signals and hospitalizations. Experts attribute shifts to immunity and potential new subvariants; the state is urging eligible residents to get the 2025-26 vaccine now, though Kaiser may not offer that version and a 2026-27 vaccine is expected by late September. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness, especially for older adults and the immunocompromised, while the disease has not vanished and long COVID remains a risk.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #covid-19 #science-and-medicine

health26 days ago•4 min saved

Wastewater signals measles in Anchorage, prompting vaccination vigilance

Anchorage wastewater testing detected measles RNA on July 7–14, indicating the virus was present in the community and prompting public health officials to urge vaccination and vigilance while more results are awaited; the test provides early warning but does not pinpoint transmission or locations.

via Anchorage Daily News|

#alaska #health #measles

health29 days ago•16 min saved

Bay Area braces for summer COVID uptick as wastewater signals spread

Wastewater testing shows high COVID-19 concentrations in parts of the Bay Area over the past three weeks, prompting officials to urge precautions such as masking in crowded indoor settings, staying current on vaccines, testing, and staying home when sick; experts expect continued spread this summer with hospitalizations and deaths remaining rare, and officials are also stressing measles vaccination for children.

via The Mercury News|

#bay-area #covid-19 #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

California preps for a summer COVID uptick with low hospitalizations

COVID-19 activity is rising in California and a broad swath of the West and South, signaling a seasonal summer uptick. While emergency visits and hospitalizations remain very low, health officials warn that cases could climb in coming weeks, especially among older adults, the immunocompromised, and young children. Authorities urge staying up to date with the latest 2025-26 vaccine, with boosters for high-risk groups, and note rising wastewater signals and county test-positivity rates as part of monitoring efforts.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #covid-19 #health

health1 month ago•1 min saved

Massachusetts Ends Biobot Wastewater Surveillance Contract as In-House Monitoring Expands

Massachusetts plans to end its contract with Biobot for wastewater surveillance, signaling a shift toward building in-house public-health monitoring capabilities after the approach proved valuable during the COVID-19 era.

via The Boston Globe|

#biobot #health #massachusetts

local1 month ago•1 min saved

Massive sewer break shuts North Shore beaches as sewage floods the Merrimack River

A ruptured 42-inch sewer main in Haverhill during heavy rain released about 8 million gallons of wastewater per day into the Merrimack River, prompting closures of North Shore beaches (Salisbury Beach, Sandy Point in Ipswich, and Plum Island in Newburyport). Repairs are underway, the sewer system remains operational, drinking water is safe, and investigators are looking into the cause.

via Boston 25 News|

#beach-closures #local #massachusetts

science1 month ago•47 min saved

Bay Area braces for rotavirus uptick as World Cup crowds arrive

Rotavirus, a highly contagious GI virus, is showing up again in Bay Area wastewater as FIFA World Cup crowds converge, with elevated readings in Redwood City, San Jose, and Vallejo after spring peaks. Health experts say mass gatherings and shared facilities can spread fecal-oral viruses, though outdoor venues may limit respiratory spread. About 260,000 travelers are expected for the World Cup, prompting public health advisories on handwashing and food hygiene. There is no cure; vaccination exists for children but has been removed from the routine schedule, which could influence susceptibility in adults as well.

via Yahoo|

#bay-area #public-health #rotavirus

health2 months ago•38 min saved

Wastewater signals measles in California, triggering health alert

California health officials say fragments of the measles virus were detected in wastewater, indicating community transmission even if reported case numbers are incomplete. The finding underscores the value of wastewater-based surveillance for outbreak monitoring and prompts continued public health vigilance, vaccination promotion, and monitoring to curb spread.

via Yahoo|

#california #health #measles

space2 months ago•5 min saved

NASA Trials Mobile Wastewater System to Sustain Future Moon Bases

NASA is testing a mobile Divergent Deployable Wastewater Treatment Facility—built at Kennedy Space Center—to process crew wastewater into water and nutrients for a hydroponic garden as part of simulating long-duration lunar and Martian habitats. The 8.5-by-24-foot trailer carries three bioreactors and autonomous controls to treat separate waste streams (urine, hygiene, laundry, fecal, and food waste) and integrate with an analog habitat at the University of North Dakota, helping assess operations, training needs, system reliability, and potential links to in-space manufacturing and closed-loop life support.

via NASA (.gov)|

#bioregenerative #life-support #moon

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Boise Rotavirus Surge Detected in Wastewater Prompts Health Advisory

Wastewater testing shows high rotavirus levels in the Boise area, signaling a contagious stomach flu that mainly endangers infants and young children. Common symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, with dehydration being a major risk that can require hospitalization. There is no specific antiviral treatment; most cases are managed with rest and fluids, though more serious cases may need hospital care. Vaccination is the best prevention, supplemented by thorough handwashing and routine surface disinfection to slow spread. Seek medical care for dehydration, persistent vomiting, high fever, or severe abdominal pain, and be aware of rare complications like intussusception that require urgent attention.

via Idaho Statesman|

#boise #diarrhea #health

health3 months ago•1 min saved

Ohio Norovirus Signals Potential Outbreak After Wastewater Rise

Norovirus levels in untreated wastewater at Ashtabula's treatment plant in northeastern Ohio are rising, signaling a potential outbreak; health officials warn the virus is highly contagious, with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that typically resolve in 1–2 days, and urge residents to wash hands, practice safe food handling, and disinfect surfaces regularly.

via WHIO TV|

#ashtabula #health #norovirus

environment4 months ago•11 min saved

Cocaine in wastewater nudges salmon to roam farther, study finds

A Current Biology study in Sweden’s Lake Vättern found environmentally relevant levels of cocaine and its main metabolite benzoylecgonine in wastewater cause juvenile Atlantic salmon to swim up to 1.9 times farther per week and disperse up to about 12 km, with the metabolite sometimes having a stronger effect than the drug itself, highlighting that low concentrations of drug residues in waterways can alter wildlife behavior and potentially disrupt ecosystems.

via The Conversation|

#benzoylecgonine #cocaine #environment