Wastewater from aircraft coming from China is being tested for worrying corona variants | News

Vandenbroucke reiterated that the situation in China does not pose a great danger to us here and now and insisted that continuing to vaccinate is important. “In addition, the main objective is to find out quickly whether a new variant might emerge in China,” said the Minister of Health during the press conference, an excerpt of which can be viewed above.

Wastewater from large cities has been studied for some time in order to detect the corona virus and any disturbing variants thereof. Vandenbroucke now wants to extend that idea to the waste water from the planes traveling from China to Brussels Airport.

According to the minister, consultations are already underway with Zaventem airport to see whether it is technically possible. It would be two flights a week. The idea comes from the United States. Testing the wastewater from international aircraft is a better way to detect the virus than having people take a PCR test upon arrival, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With serious doubts over China’s transparency on coronavirus data, these tests could provide a clearer picture of how the virus mutates. “We think this is something that all European countries should do,” Vandenbroucke said Monday night.

Vandenbroucke wants to use testing sparingly, given the cost price. That is why people who show corona symptoms after a recent stay in China should be tested. This then covers a period of seven days before becoming ill. These tests can be administered by pharmacists and healthcare providers.

It is important that the tests used can also detect variants. There is a fear that the massive spread of the corona virus in China will lead to new, dangerous variants that will be brought to Belgium by plane.

Minister Vandenbroucke wants to plead with his European colleagues for a mandatory negative test when boarding an aircraft. He does point out, however, that it is only useful if this applies to all flights to the European Union. A large number of people come from China to Belgium via an airport in another country and then come to our country by bus or train.

On Wednesday, the member states of the European Union will meet to consider a common response to travelers from China. The federal health minister takes the measures after meeting on Monday with the Risk Management Group, the group of health experts that advises on protective measures.

It is important that the corona situation in China is closely monitored, but there is no need to panic. That is what virologist Marc Van Ranst (KU Leuven) says on Monday. In order to detect new corona variants, our country will test waste water from aircraft landing from China at Zaventem airport. “That is not easy, but it is certainly possible,” says Van Ranst.

By doing an analysis of the coronavirus genetic material present in positive tests from people who have been to China, we can track mutations. “We don’t know how serious the mutations are then,” says the virologist. “That is why it is important to continue taking samples from passengers so that we can continue to monitor them.”

“This is not the story of 2020,” says Van Ranst. “The variants that are now circulating in China originate from here. As a population, we are well resistant to different versions within the omikron variant due to the high vaccination rate and the increased immunity The extra attention to the Chinese situation is good, but there is absolutely no need to panic or worry.”

LOOK: Should Belgium demand a negative corona test from Chinese tourists?