SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe
Background: Most new SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in France occurred following the importation from abroad of emerging viral variants. Currently, the risk of new variants being imported is controlled based on a negative screening test (PCR or antigenic) and proof of up-to-date vaccine status, such as the In...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1511 |
| _version_ | 1797443078139674624 |
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| author | Lorlane Le Targa Nathalie Wurtz Alexandre Lacoste Gwilherm Penant Priscilla Jardot Alexandre Annessi Philippe Colson Bernard La Scola Sarah Aherfi |
| author_facet | Lorlane Le Targa Nathalie Wurtz Alexandre Lacoste Gwilherm Penant Priscilla Jardot Alexandre Annessi Philippe Colson Bernard La Scola Sarah Aherfi |
| author_sort | Lorlane Le Targa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Most new SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in France occurred following the importation from abroad of emerging viral variants. Currently, the risk of new variants being imported is controlled based on a negative screening test (PCR or antigenic) and proof of up-to-date vaccine status, such as the International Air Transport Association travel pass. Methods: The wastewater from two planes arriving in Marseille (France) from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in December 2021 was tested by RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV2 and screen for variants. These tests were carried out between landing and customs clearance and were then sequenced by MiSeq Illumina. Antigenic tests and sequencing by NovaSeq were carried out on respiratory samples collected from the 56 passengers on the second flight. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA suspected of being from the Omicron BA.1 variant was detected in the aircraft’s wastewater. SARS-CoV2 RNA was detected in 11 [20%) passengers and the Omicron BA.1 variant was identified. Conclusion: Our work shows the efficiency of aircraft wastewater testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 cases among travellers and to identify the viral genotype. It also highlights the low efficacy of the current control strategy for flights entering France from outside Europe, which combines a requirement to produce a vaccine pass and proof of a negative test before boarding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:50:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6495fd3e9f2041e0889d7de7a319419f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:50:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-6495fd3e9f2041e0889d7de7a319419f2023-11-30T22:05:31ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-07-01147151110.3390/v14071511SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into EuropeLorlane Le Targa0Nathalie Wurtz1Alexandre Lacoste2Gwilherm Penant3Priscilla Jardot4Alexandre Annessi5Philippe Colson6Bernard La Scola7Sarah Aherfi8Microbes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceBataillon des Marins Pompiers de la ville de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceBataillon des Marins Pompiers de la ville de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceMicrobes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, FranceBackground: Most new SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in France occurred following the importation from abroad of emerging viral variants. Currently, the risk of new variants being imported is controlled based on a negative screening test (PCR or antigenic) and proof of up-to-date vaccine status, such as the International Air Transport Association travel pass. Methods: The wastewater from two planes arriving in Marseille (France) from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in December 2021 was tested by RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV2 and screen for variants. These tests were carried out between landing and customs clearance and were then sequenced by MiSeq Illumina. Antigenic tests and sequencing by NovaSeq were carried out on respiratory samples collected from the 56 passengers on the second flight. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA suspected of being from the Omicron BA.1 variant was detected in the aircraft’s wastewater. SARS-CoV2 RNA was detected in 11 [20%) passengers and the Omicron BA.1 variant was identified. Conclusion: Our work shows the efficiency of aircraft wastewater testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 cases among travellers and to identify the viral genotype. It also highlights the low efficacy of the current control strategy for flights entering France from outside Europe, which combines a requirement to produce a vaccine pass and proof of a negative test before boarding.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1511SARS-CoV2wastewater monitoringvariant spreadaircraftsurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Lorlane Le Targa Nathalie Wurtz Alexandre Lacoste Gwilherm Penant Priscilla Jardot Alexandre Annessi Philippe Colson Bernard La Scola Sarah Aherfi SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe Viruses SARS-CoV2 wastewater monitoring variant spread aircraft surveillance |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 testing of aircraft wastewater shows that mandatory tests and vaccination pass before boarding did not prevent massive importation of omicron variant into europe |
| topic | SARS-CoV2 wastewater monitoring variant spread aircraft surveillance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/7/1511 |
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