Don't panic, but researchers theorize that rats may be the origin of a mystery COVID variant in New York City
Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images Over the past year, scientists keep seeing a COVID-19 oddity showing up in New York City’s sewer system: bits and pieces of virus in the wastewater that suggest there’s a mysterious new variant in the city. Thankfully, there’s no evidence that it’s particularly infectious or deadly. But scientists aren’t sure where the “cryptic lineages,” as researchers call the fragments, are coming from.
John Dennehy: They’re probably drinking sewer water, and I heard they eat feces, so if there’s any clumps of material in the wastewater, I’m sure they might try to consume it. We’ve never detected live virus in the wastewater. But given the volume of wastewater and the number of rats, it’s certainly possible that they’ve gotten infected that way.Johnson: There was a figure in the paper where we actually show that these lineages have all gained the ability to utilize the rat receptor.
Monica Trujillo: I think the important thing to keep in mind here is that every time the virus replicates, it has a possibility to mutate. So if there is a population where you are not aware where the virus is replicating, that is worrisome. That is why it’s important to know where these cryptic sequences are coming from.Dennehy: Not that we know of. Omicron is possibly hypothesized to come from animals in Africa, but that’s not proven.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New York, Illinois latest Democratic-led states to halt COVID-19 policiesThree people briefed on the decision told the New York Times that New York Governor Kathy Hochul will end the state's strict masking guidelines for businesses.
Read more »
Utah reports 32 new COVID-19 deaths in past day — a record highUtah on Tuesday reported 32 new COVID-19 deaths — the most reported in a single day since the pandemic began.
Read more »
A new COVID wave batters Afghanistan's crumbling healthcare systemAll but five of the 38 hospitals that treated COVID-19 in Afghanistan have been forced to close recently for lack of doctors, medicines and even heat.
Read more »
COVID Illinois Update: IL reports 4,742 new cases, 109 deathsIllinois public health officials reported 4,742 new COVID cases and related 109 deaths Wednesday.
Read more »
Taylor Swift Is Spotted Out in New York City With a Keyboard in HandIt looks like Swifties are heading to the classroom after New York University recently launched a brand new music course that focuses on all things Taylor Swift, and yeah, we are so here for this.
Read more »
New York City considers making pandemic sidewalk dining rules permanentAs New York City gets closer to its goal of returning to a pre-pandemic way of life, elected officials are considering making one emergency order a permanent fixture.
Read more »