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#wastewater — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #wastewater, aggregated by home.social.

  1. More fried equipment? Not surprising! #Japan to resume trial removal of #radioactive #Fukushima nuclear debris amid safety concerns

    10/25/2024

    Fukushima, Japan - "The operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant will resume an operation to remove a sample of #HighlyRadioactive material next week, reports said Friday, after having suspended the effort over a technical snag.

    "Extracting the estimated 880 tons of highly radioactive fuel and debris inside the former power station remains the most challenging part of decommissioning the facility, which was hit by a catastrophic tsunami in 2011.

    "Radioactivity levels inside are far too high for humans to enter, and last month engineers began inserting an extendable device to try and remove a small sample.

    "However, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) had to halt the procedure after noticing that remote cameras on the apparatus were not beaming back images to the control center.

    "TEPCO on Friday said it would resume the removal on Monday after replacing the cameras with new ones, the Asahi Shimbun daily and other local media reported.

    "TEPCO officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the reports.

    Safety of Fukushima #wastewater release in question

    "Three of Fukushima's six reactors went into meltdown after a tsunami triggered by Japan's biggest earthquake on record swamped the facility in one of the world's worst atomic accidents.

    "Japan last year began releasing into the #PacificOcean some of the 540 Olympic swimming pools' worth of contaminated reactor cooling water amassed since the catastrophe."

    Read more:
    msn.com/en-us/news/world/japan

    #FukushimaIsntOver #NoDumping #FukushimaWastewater #TEPCOLies #PacificLivesMatter #WaterIsLife #RethinkNotRestart #TEPCO

  2. Good Muggy Morning SARS2PAians! ☁️💐☁️

    I hope you are having a safe Spring!

    #VOCs

    The top news lately are the newest variants causing country-wide summer waves including Spain: ibb.co/hRpvjt5

    and Portugal: ibb.co/khTtyJX

    They are KP.3.x.y and LB.x.y.

    These new immune evasive variants are filling up hospitals and causing notable increases in deaths.

    KP.3 is now the variant "grandfather" that is the fastest, the most immune evasive, and the most easily bound to cells. Specifically, the most watched upcoming variant is its grandchild, KP.3.1.1.

    The newest variants that have a very good chance of causing a sizeable increase in numbers, if not a full blown-out wave, are variants of KP.3 that already have immune evasive mutations (FLuQE) but also have an advantageous specific spike deletion (S:S31del).

    These new and fastest variants are immune evasive to BOTH current vaccinations, AND prior infections.

    Nationally, KP.2 is still just barely at the top of the leaderboard. KP.2.3 is right behind it, already a variant that is being watched.: ibb.co/p0d8G8n

    🔴KP.3.1.1 is absolutely blazing fast and burning through Spain, Portugal and other countries, and is part of KP-DEL31.

    _____

    NOTE: "KP-DEL31" is gonna be my nickname for it, not variant hunters or virologists. Just to call it something easily condensed and recognizeable for now. They might decide on a different nickname soon. These names are just for convenience. (You don't call your cousin Mister James Robert Smith every time, do you? You call him JimBob or Smitty. It just makes talking easier.)

    _____

    I've highlighted FLiRT in pink on the national screenshot but I'll drop it soon as KP-DEL31 becomes more and more relevant.

    There's no specific results for PA on the Tableau site. Probably not enough testing here.

    In NY/NJ, I've highlighted KP-DEL31 in green on the NY/NJ leaderboard, and as you can see, all the top 5 variants there have this very important spike deletion. But KP.3.1.1 is the variant to keep eyes on.: ibb.co/Jcv0rF7

    KP.3.1.1 is already found (in only a few days!) in TX, NY, CA, CO, NJ, WA, and VA.

    🔴If you've dropped wearing respirators for now you might want to reconsider putting them back on as KP.3.1.1 makes gains and spring moves along.

    ________________

    #Wastewater

    Wastewater has returned to HIGH levels in the Eastern and Southern states. KP.2, KP.3 and LB.x.y variants are working together on driving this.: ibb.co/0nHqQPS

    In our region, specifically testing in Maryland is showing a return to higher levels.: ibb.co/99MSpy0

    The PA wastewater dashboard is showing LARGE increases in Philly, and sizeable increases in Centre and Indiana counties.: ibb.co/0J14Tty

    MASK UP, oh my Philly ❤️️!

    ________________

    #Vaccines

    Whoa I had a whole angry thing typed out here and juuuuuuust checked back on Twitter, and Dr. Eric Topol wrote just 2 hrs ago that the US FDA has changed its decision for the upcoming vaccine base!!: ibb.co/xzB6GVb

    The newest mRNA vaccines will be based on KP.2 and NOT JN.1!

    This is a wise decision and fantastic news!!

    This will certainly better prepare us for Summer.

    (NOTE: **Novavax** will have a JN.1 based booster. Novavax is completely different as it has proven effective through multiple years with ONE base so that vaccine will probably not have to be changed as often.)

    _______________
    🔴Even with vaccines, there are always other things we can do to practice source control!

    keep those windows OPEN

    wear a respirator

    keep the air clean

    move meetings outside

    work from home

    build a Corsi-Rosenthal box

    stay home if you are sick!

    Continue to have a great and safe Spring!! 💐💐💐

    #COVID19 #COVID #COVIDisNotOver #SARS2PA #Pennsylvania #PA
    #FLiRT #F456L #R346T #spike_f456l #spike_r346t
    #FLuQE #Q493E
    #KP2 #KP3 #LB1 #Moderna #Pfizer #Novavax
    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #WashHands #VaccinesSaveLives #StayHomeIfSick !

  3. Update for 5/6/2024!

    Good Morning SARS2PAians!

    Yes I have an update today aaaaand unfortunately that's kinda never a good thing. You DON'T want to hear from me here!

    (I am asking you once again....to please make this hobby of mine obsolete 🙏😔 Filter the air, be aware of social contacts, wear a quality respirator, and wash hands for the gastro stuff.)

    __________
    VOCs

    We are dealing with FLiRT now, but there are two groups of incoming variants that are becoming concerningly successful in other countires including right next door in Canada.: ibb.co/fkG3gpg

    One is an earlier-new group consisting of JN.1.32 and KP.3.

    Another, far off-new yet, is KW.1 and its child, KW.1.1.

    All of these variants have been proven faster than FliRT in Australia, UK, etc. KP.3 is exceptionally fast.

    🔴Due to antigenic drift, vaccines and previous infection are NOT as effective to protect you with these upcoming variants.

    🔴This does NOT mean vaccines don't work, so do not go spreading that. (You should also be mightily shunned for spreading that.)

    Again: Vaccines are safe and effective...but these incoming variants are starting to yet again DRIFT TOO FAR AWAY from the current XBB vaccines.

    I've highlighted the upcoming concerning variants in teal, as opposed to the FLiRT group which is in pink. KW.1.1 isn't above the fold yet nationally at 0.16% so I made a note on the image so I remember to keep track of this number.

    Nationally, JN.1.7 and JN.1 are a tthe top of the board. JN.1.32 at 2.23% and KP.3 also at 2.23%. KW.1 at a little under half a percent. These numbers might be higher in actual meatspace because there is not nearly enough labwork/sequencing available to make laser-focused predictions.: ibb.co/bRpvDP7

    In PA, we do not have group 2 of the far-off variants yet here but we do have KP.2. Gotta watch this one.: ibb.co/3kPMBwM

    In NY/NJ, whoa, KP.3 already clocking in at over 3%, in the top 10 of random sequencing already. I haven't been watching this one so when I have more time I'll go back and check this one out.: ibb.co/qM7C4CY

    KP.2 already at over 10%. That's fast, and antigenic drift is absolutely not helping here as any protection we might have had against this new stuff is starting to slip away.

    We might be in for a bump up in numbers this spring, as something similar last year happened too.

    Just giving everyone a heads-up on what we might be in for this spring/summer.

    We can keep it in control by practicing some very comon-sense, easy things!

    Have a safe spring!! 💐💐💐

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Wastewater #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #FLiRT #F456L #R346T #spike_r346t #spike_f456l

    #KP2 #KP3 #JNOne32 #JN132 #KS1

    #KW1 #KW11

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #WashHands #StayHomeIfSick !

  4. Good Morning/Afternoon SARS2PAians!!

    I hope you are enjoying this GORGEOUS Spring weather 💐💐💐

    1/2 Update for May 3, 2024!

    __________
    :all_the_things: State of the Subreddit/Fediverse posts:

    There's not much new to report for COVID right now except some closely watched new mutations, so basically TL;DR is that COVID levels are very very low, enjoy it but please keep source control safety always on the backburner.

    So. I don't mean to only have this as a once-a-week thing but it's kind of turning into that. I also don't mean to have people waste their time checking in here if I don't post, but I'm always hesitant to call it a once-a-week-thing as COVID is so volatile and mutations can always manifest something very weird in a short amount of time.

    I have no idea when info will be available so I'm keeping it a "twice-a-week thing", Monday and Friday but sometimes I just don't have enough info/anything new/time for a Monday, so Friday is always much better for a full post for me.

    I hope you continue to find this informative useful and I suuuuuper apologize if you check in and I don't post. 🙏

    But even better, go check out the links for yourself and follow people smarter than me for COVID stuff!

    __________
    VOCs

    Nationally, JN.1 and JN.1.7 still at the top of the leaderboard. FLiRT variants JN.1.4 and KP.2 keeps chipping away at their lead.: ibb.co/JqWkBSD

    KP.2 seems to be the fastest mover of the whole FLiRT mutation block and the one the virology world is keeping their eyes on.

    In PA, we don't have KP.2 showing up on Rajnarayanan's Tableau site so far, whcih is good but we still have quite a few FLiRTs here.: ibb.co/vP5yH4G

    In NY/NJ, we can see here KP.2 has climbed above all the other FLiRTs, is in 4th place at >8% and is right behind JN.1 now.: ibb.co/ZzLcRxJ

    The WHO is now looking to JN.1 being the next mutation that will be the base of the newest COVID vaccine.: who.int/news/item/26-04-2024-s

    🔴PLEASE GET VACCINATED if available. Don't be a tuff guy. Go get it.

    Upcoming fast variants are KP.3 and JN.1.32👀, which are not FLiRTs but very fast. I have them highlighted in teal on the charts as they are both already up to almost 5% of national sequencing.

    In PA, we have JN.1.32 in low but measurable amounts at a little over 3% of random sequencing and these two variants wil have to be watched.

    __________
    CDC

    CDC has stopped requiring reporting COVID hospital admissions, hospital capacity or hospital occupancy data at the beginning of May. 🙄 This plus nowhere near enough testing and sequencing makes this....hard to keep up with the virus.

    "Effective May 1, 2024, hospitals are no longer required to report COVID-19 hospital admissions, hospital capacity, or hospital occupancy data to HHS through CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). CDC encourages ongoing, voluntary reporting of hospitalization data. Data voluntarily reported to NHSN after May 1, 2024, will be available starting May 10, 2024, at COVID Data Tracker Hospitalizations."

    "The source of hospital information on the COVID Data Tracker home page will change from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to COVID-NET. Instead of displaying national counts of new hospital admissions, it will show COVID-19 hospitalization rates per 100,000 people. More information on COVID-Net is available on COVID-NET Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 Hospitalizations."

    covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-track 🙄

    __________
    Other Pathogens

    WastewaterSCAN now has SARS2 as LOW! YEAH! :canparrot:

    Also FluB and RSV! Woohoo! :canparrot:

    Still HIGH though are FluA, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), parainfluenza, and gastro bugs Noro and Rotavirus.: ibb.co/By0g9Xt

    __________
    H5N1 follows in second post......

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Wastewater #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #FluB #Influenza #Norovirus #HMPV #FLiRT #F456L #R346T #spike_r346t #spike_f456l

    #H5N1 #CleanFeedNOW

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #WashHands #StayHomeIfSick !

  5. Good Afternoon SARS2PAians!

    I hope your spring is healthy and productive! 💐💐💐

    __________
    VOCs

    Nationally, the most concerning variants are, as I posted last week, the FLiRT variants that have specific mutations enabling fast transfer. JN.1.4 and KP.2 are already almost at 10% of variant share but remember the amount of testing and sequencing right now is dismal and it makes everything harder to evaluate.: ibb.co/KDt0Bh4

    FLiRT variants are highlighted in pink on my screenshot. Expect these to push further and further near the top in the next few weeks (and the CDC NOWCAST confirms this prediction.)

    In PA, we still have a few FLiRTs here and you can already see them starting to move toward the top of the variant chart.: ibb.co/kc9CQyZ

    In NY/NJ, FLiRTs KP.2, JN.1.4, JN.1.16.1, and JN.1.18 already account for ~20% of random sequencing.: ibb.co/TrcS9rW

    __________
    Wastewater

    The GOOD news is COVID is stil fairly low; we've gone below the higher level of two years ago, and are at the lower level of last year at this time!: ibb.co/Q83BR3k

    We still must watch to see if the FLiRT crew push this metric upwards.

    __________
    CDC

    The new hospital admits map has changed. High increases all through Central PA excepting Centre Co. and also over tehre in Mercer Co. Philly and Pitt looking very good!: ibb.co/Xp8tCJV

    The Inpatient Beds Map looks pretty good, some increases in McKean, Potter, and Cameron counties and also around Somerset and Cambria Cos.: ibb.co/fD7JYTf

    ICU beds over all showing stability, with lots of counties in Central PA and the old coal region on the decrease! Some increases from Lycoming over to McKean though.: ibb.co/jMTdyCT

    __________
    NOWCAST

    The CDC Nowcast is now including multiple fast-moving FLiRT variants in its tracking: KP.2, KP.1.1, KQ.1, JN.1.18.: ibb.co/wBY45FV

    According to current estimates, these variants combined account for over a third of illnesses already.

    These are moving FAST.

    __________
    NonSARS2 Pathogens

    More good news: according to WastewaterSCAN, there are now lots of pathogens considered LOW nationally!

    Just be warned that they are still showing HIGH in the Northeast, like FluB, which is LOW nationally but regionally still HIGH. Hopefully these numbers will lower even more as the Spring enables more outdoor/well ventilated activity.: ibb.co/vYGmTd1

    __________
    H5N1

    H5N1 particles have been found in dairy milk, and are assumed to be inactivated due to the pasteurization process.

    We MUST demand healthy cows, testing and tracking of sick herds, and transparency from the meat and dairy insustries.

    This is not necessarily to keep H5N1 out of dairy products.

    The more IMMINENT concern than being found in dairy milk is letting this thing percolate until it gains new mutations, whether to infect swine or enable human-to-human transfer.: ibb.co/FVbNnky

    Some things you can do that are obviously proactive and not panicking about this:

    🔴Demand clean feed for cattle and swine.

    🔴Demand transparent testing, tracing of cattle illness.

    🔴Demand high levels of sampling and sequencing of sick herds.

    🔴AVOID raw dairy products. Seriously, people, DO NOT contribute to this thing by consuming raw dairy products, even if your State allows its sale (and Pennsylvania DOES as far as I know!)

    🔴Try ultra-pasteurized milk, it's the most common milk sold in European countries.

    Here's a nifty guide that compares pasteurized/ultra-pasteurized/UHT (ultra high temperature) methods of treating dairy products:

    britannica.com/technology/past

    🔴Avoid undercooked or rare meats. Meats must be heated to 162 degrees for at least 15 seconds to destroy pathogens like tuberculosis.

    🔴Switch to providers that are not battery farms and practice humane farming. This is NOT just to be kind to animals (although that's a huge bonus), it is PRACTICAL and keeping herds not densely packed will lessen disease transmission. So far, H5N1 has a 50% kill rate even in non-bird species and we MUST keep outbreaks of it controlled.

    I hope you have a FANTASTIC, well-ventilated, healthy and fun Spring!! 💐💐💐

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Wastewater #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #FluB #Influenza #Norovirus #HMPV #FLiRT #F456L #R346T #spike_r346t #spike_f456l

    #H5N1 #CleanFeedNOW

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #WashHands #StayHomeIfSick !

  6. Good Afternoon SARS2PAians!

    It's going to get a bit chilly the next few days , butin spite of that I hope you're haivng a great Spring! 💐💐💐

    🔴Reminder: If you've built a Corsi-Rosenthal box, you can get lots of seasonal allergy relief by running it! CR boxes have many, many practical uses besides just controlling air particles that carry pathogens.

    There was nothing much new to post on Monday plus I had a bunch of family things to handle (and doing this, admittedly takes time) so I apologize again for not posting. But you know the saying "no news is good news" and that defintiely applies to these updates.

    I'm going to try and update the link list ASAP.

    I hope you still find all this useful and informative. I hope the medical community finds these accurate and reliable.

    __________
    VOCs

    While we are experiencing a MOST welcome lull in COVID numbers right now, disease modelers are predicting a bump up in numbers at the end of this month.: ibb.co/YpnpfMF

    This is due to a variant block that have specific mutations. Together they are nicknamed the FLiRT group and are named so because their most important mutations are located at S:F456L and S:R346T within the structure of the pathogen.

    🔴Right now FLiRT mutes have an 8% advantage even over JN.1. That's fast.: ibb.co/NshJLK6

    The most important VOCs out there right now are the variants that have the FLiRT designation, and I've highlighted these mutes on these screenshots in pink.

    Remember that there is nowhere near the amount of national testing or sequencing that should be implemented, so it makes trying to predict growth activity more difficult.

    Nationally, lots of FLiRT mutations out there. It is unknown whether they are fast enough to cause a wave altogether, but they're fast enough to compete with JN.1 to eventually take over quite a bit of the current leaderboard.: ibb.co/S7kCkpH

    In PA, we have quite a few FLiRT mutation here but these mutes are in relatively low numbers, so far.: ibb.co/bdhJwKv

    In NY/NJ, FLiRT mute JN.1.4 already in second place on the leaderboard at over 9% of random sequencing. The other FLiRT variants will undoubtedly catch up.: ibb.co/ZBgYP2G

    Here you can see FLiRT's innate growth advantage compared to JN variants.: ibb.co/3swYQ4r

    Here you can see JN.1's innate growth advantage compared to older variants.: ibb.co/DfH6j53

    __________
    Wastewater

    Nationally we're still on the bottom of the lull. This might be the lowest point of the whole year as our numbers ongoing could match 2022/2023, where we had quite a bump up in the middle of the summer (because, reminder: COVID doesn't have a "season", it can bump those numbers up anytime it gets lucky with a new mutation!).: ibb.co/3mVzfx9

    In PA, wastewater still low pretty much everywhere which is great. MontCo SMASHING it, going way below national levels!!: ibb.co/TbrQgk7

    __________
    CDC

    The counties showing high increase in hospital admits has shifted around. Now the counties with the highest increases are along the NY border and down in the Southwest corner surrounding Greene Co. Adams and York also showing high end increases. Philly corner showing moderate increases.: ibb.co/cQRgbwM

    The % inpatient beds map looks very good! stable or decreasing everywhere, except some increases in Columbia Co up going Northeast to Wayne Co.: ibb.co/Q8JMZvh

    Staffed ICU beds in the vast majority of counties steady or going down...except Columbia, Luzerne and Wyoming in the eastern half of the State and Centre, Clearfield and Jefferson in Central PA.: ibb.co/5kXgcYR

    __________
    Other Pathogens

    We're still high in non-SARS2 respiratory pathogens according the WastewaterSCAN. FluA, FluB, and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) are still HIGH.

    Gastro stuff is very high too, Norovirus and Roitavirus.

    🔴Keep the air clean, be aware of social contacts and wear a quality respirator in crowds and in places where air filteration is suboptimal. Stay home of you are sick to beat the respiratory stuff.

    🔴WASH HANDS with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds to beat Noro and Rota. Rinse off fruits and veg before you eat them. Be aware of food handling safety in the kitchen. Don't send kids to school with this.

    Mostly because...Noro and Rota are not only extremely contagious, they're also just...gross. 🤢

    I hope you have a GREAT and safe Spring!! 💐💐💐

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Wastewater #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #FluA #FluB #Influenza #Norovirus #Rotavirus #HMPV #FLiRT #F456L #R346T #spike_r346t #spike_f456l

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #WashHands #StayHomeIfSick !

  7. Update for 3/8/2024!

    Good Morning SARS2PAiains!!

    I hope you're ready for that time change on Sunday! 🕐🕐🕐

    This is a wonderfully short update. I mean, it doesn't look short, but it kinda is. 🤪

    There's no new CDC stuff.

    There are no new wastewater updates and we are continuing to approach lower levels of previous years as spring gets closer.: ibb.co/QfPr8NJ

    __________
    Lineage News

    There's no new immediate variant news as JN.1 is still the only thing all over the place so far.

    There are some new varaints being watched as JN.1 (and specifically JN.1.11) seems really capable of producing descendants that worry virologists:

    ❗️JN.1.16: Concerningly infectious even over very wide areas in China; Lots of this currently being uploaded from what I gather in USA too, already in 9 states.

    ❗KP.1.1 (which is JN.1.11.1.1.1): this has a potential nuts-level of growth rate going by genetics alone.

    ❗KP.2 (which is JN.1.11.1.2): seems closely related to JN.1.16 that I was, in my very very unprofessional opinion, concerned about last update.

    ❗KP.2.1: widespread already in East Asia.

    KP.x.y has an extraordinary growth rate only considering mutations but we'll see how any of this checks out in actual biological results.

    __________
    NON SARS PATHOGENS

    There is still a very high amount of total pathogens all around.: ibb.co/3sxWQ3C

    Respiratory pathogens are still high according to WastewaterSCAN:

    ❗SARS2

    ❗RSV

    ❗Flu A

    ❗Flu B

    ❗Parainfluenza, which has been upgraded to HIGH since last update.

    Gastro stuff is still very high too!:

    ❗Norovirus

    ❗Rotavirus

    Noro is thankfully declining at UPark but still in the very high range.: ibb.co/CMSGsjg

    If we keep using common sense ways to control it, it prevents DAYS of learning/financial loss and potential hospital visits for dehydration. And...it's just gross to deal with. 🤢

    Fpr respiratory illnesses, wear a quality respirator, be aware of social contacts, mask/respirator up in crowds and in low ventilation areas (low ceilings, restrooms, elevators, etc.), keep the air clean, get those COVID and flu shots, and STAY HOME if you are sick!

    For the gastro stuff, don't prepare food when sick. Don't depend on gloves for sanitizing either! Wash fruits and veg before you eat them.

    Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

    ❗Hand sanitizer and heat does not work well against Norovirus because the individual virions are very very tough to kill. You MUST wash hands with soap and water.

    For all pathogens, cover coughs and sneezes in the elbow crease and not your hands.

    We're almost there! :canparrot:

    It's Goose flyover season! :cangoose:

    We're gonna have a great Spring, and simple, common sense consideration and source control is how we get there! 💐💐💐

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #FluA #FluB #Influenza #Norovirus #Noro #Rotavirus

    #JN1Sixteen #JN116
    #KP1One #KP11
    #KP2
    #KP2One #KP21

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #VaccinesSaveLives #WashHands #Wastewater #StayHomeIfSick #SourceControl #USESourceControl #COVIDSourceControl

  8. Update for 3/1/2024!

    Good Morning SARS2PAians! ❄️

    Welcome to March, after Leap Day 🐇🐏🐸!

    There's no new CDC stuff today.

    __________
    VOCs

    Nothing currently new with VOCs, JN.1 all over the place nationally: ibb.co/GncBGTR

    and in PA of course.: ibb.co/yS1wq0c

    Scientists are still watching JN.1.11, and even though it's sort of fizzled out itself, its children are now moving progressively faster as it develops.

    Faster than its parent, JN.1.11.1 is moving along and is being found in most new sampling.

    Along with it, JN.1.11.1.1, which is shortened to KP.1, has great potential to make a dent in its grandparent's leaderboard status.

    I'm also seeing a LOT of JN.1.16 both here in Canada by the latest sequencing experts. I'm just going to make a mental note of JN.1.16 because it and also JN.1.11.1 are both moving sorta quickly through Canada and are also found in the NY/NJ area.: ibb.co/R3Tmstt

    None of these are "major eathshaking variants" but to have something faster NOW will bump numbers back up for Spring and we DO NOT want that!

    Nothing all that significant in PA yet. No JN.1.16, JN.1.11, JN.1.11.1, or KP.1.

    __________
    Wastewater

    Nationally, SARS2 material found in wastewater is DROPPING again!: ibb.co/3RM4DDk

    This is great. We are starting to approach the lower levels of previous years.: ibb.co/pbHnDDJ

    Regionally, all regions are down except for the Midwest which is bumping upwards.: ibb.co/MhJmxX4

    In PA, all 5 sheds that report to Biobot are droping significantly!!: ibb.co/tPhVHWJ

    And so are the Harrisburg and UPark areas which report to WastewaterSCAN. This is great for still having winter weather. We're handling it. We're doing something right!: ibb.co/5cWQDHh

    The State PA Wastewater Dashboard now has many sheds, especially in the East, in the blue, SARS concentration lessening.: ibb.co/Wx2Pf2J

    __________
    Non-SARS2 Wastewater

    OK, now for the not-so-great wastewater news: we're getting smashed by non-SARS pathogens like FluA, FluB, and Norovirus (which is the "24-hr stomach bug").

    Numbers of FluA and FluB are rising significantly in all sheds that report to WastewaterSCAN.

    FluA: ibb.co/Xkn6xYL
    FluB: ibb.co/84wfBH9

    Especially in UPark with FluB, yikes. Please wear a quality respirator to control this. Not doing so means more learning loss!

    UPark is getting hit hard with Norovirus, which is already at HIGH levels and is going vertical there.: ibb.co/svpJB1t

    C'mon, UPark, get a hold of this so your Spring won't be a mess! 💐

    :ms_arrow_right: WASH hands, WASH food you eat and don't prepare food if you are sick to prevent the spread of Noro. It's just gross. Don't spread it!

    It's still going to take a bit of work but if we do, we'll be more prepared for a healthier Spring.

    And that in both scenarios: if we have a relatively calm COVID Spring with no new crazyfast variant (less likely), and also we won't be fighting pathogens on many different fronts if we DO have a crazyfast variant (more likely).

    Stay healthy and have a great March! ❄️💐❄️

    #covid #Covid19 #SARS2PA #CDC #CovidIsNotOver #Pennsylvania #PA #JN1 #JN1Eleven #JN1Eleven1 #JN1Sixteen #JN116 #KP1 #FluA #FluB #Influenza #Norovirus #Noro

    #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #VaccinesSaveLives #Wastewater #StayHomeIfSick #SourceControl #USESourceControl #COVIDSourceControl