The measured level of coronavirus particles is increasing again in Leuven wastewater. High values have already persisted since June. This is very unusual, because “ordinary” respiratory infections generally only appear in the fall. This is what Elke Wollants of the Rega Institute (KU Leuven) says.
“We have already been measuring very high levels of coronavirus in Leuven wastewater since the summer. In fact, values have never fallen since last summer. The latest measurement even shows a further increase,” says virologist Elke Wollants. The last level measured, on September 24, is significantly higher than the previous year. It is even similar to the September 2022 values.
The fact that virus transmission has been at its peak since June is astonishing; “ordinary” respiratory viruses like the flu or RSV only reappear in the fall. “With coronavirus, there is no pattern. The exact reason remains a mystery after more than three years,” says Wollants. “During the Rock Werchter festival we observed a spike in our samples, and since then the values have remained very high. The coronavirus behaves in a very atypical way for a respiratory infection. »
No more hospitalizations
However, the high traffic does not translate into more hospitalizations. “This is due to our acquired baseline immunity. Annual vaccination remains recommended for the elderly and vulnerable people,” explains the virologist.
The flu and RSV season has not yet started. However, Elke Wollants and her team are already seeing an increase in enterovirus D68 in wastewater. “It can also cause serious respiratory infections. We see a clear upward trend. The symptoms are almost identical to those of the coronavirus,” she concludes.
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