LAHORE: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS)'s pilot study has detected SARS-CoV-2 genome from urine and faecal samples of COVID -19 patients and sewage water.

In a bid to develop a smart COVID-19 surveillance strategy at the community level, which may aid in better execution of smart lockdowns, UVAS' Bio safety Level-3 Laboratory for Emerging Pathogens conducted the pilot study with the cooperation of Healthcare Department Punjab, said a UVAS' spokesperson here on Saturday.

The smart surveillance of sewage water for the genome of etiological agent of COVID-19 may reveal actual COVID-19 burden of a locality and it will aid in better execution of smart lockdowns. The SARS-CoV-2 genome in sewage water only indicates COVID-19 burden in a particular area, but it does not reveal if the virus is in infectious or non-infectious form.

UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasim Ahmad termed this study another great contribution by the BSL-3 Lab. He appreciated Prof Dr Tahir Yaqub and his team for initiating this research activity. He reiterated that UVAS is committed to contributing to the best of its capabilities to the efforts of the government in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020