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Virus measurements in wastewater, calls to 1177 Vårdguiden and sampling responses.
Several researchers at Uppsala University are currently investigating this.
They also compile the information, hoping to more quickly identify the signs of further local spread of Covid-19 in Uppsala.
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
Tove Fall, professor of molecular epidemiology and principal investigator.
Today, covid-19 is only detected when the infected person seeks care or is tested for symptoms. Because they often carried the virus for a week or more before, researchers at Uppsala University are now trying to develop a new method that detects local outbreaks at an early stage.
– We are now working intensively to gather information from several different sources in order to be able to identify the early signs of further local spread of the infection, says Tove Fall, professor of molecular epidemiology and principal investigator, in a press release.
Various sources of information
The researchers collaborate with the Uppsala Region and in addition to the measurements of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater, information at the group level of 1177 and information from the Infection Control Unit in Uppsala on the number of infected, hospitalized and deceased from different zip code areas, will examine unidentified information from a survey and data from the independent research study Covid Sweden Symptom Study – that study is led by Uppsala University and Lund University in collaboration with King’s College London and Zoe Global Ltd and involves volunteers over the age of 18 who report their symptoms in daily updates on a mobile app.
If the new method with several different sources works, it can be extended to other parts of the country, according to Fall.
– If it proves to be effective and useful, it can also be used in other regions, he says.
Targeted infection tracking
The Uppsala Region infection control unit will also participate in the project information to make it easier to know where additional efforts will be made to stop the spread of the infection.
– In this way, we hope to minimize the effects of the pandemic and obtain valuable information on how we can improve in the fight against this and future pandemics, says Mats Martinell, doctor of the sampling unit of the Uppsala Region and researcher responsible for the project, in a press release.
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