US media: Omi Kerong appeared in front of South Africa, or has appeared in New York

Jimu news reporter Hu Li

According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and researchers across the country, the "Omiljong" variant may have been present in New York City's wastewater before the first case of infection with the "Omikejong" strain was reported in South Africa, the New York Times reported on January 20.

In Midtown Manhattan last Christmas, even before the first case in the United States was detected, the "Omi kerong" strain may have been in the city for more than a month. Source: The New York Times

The study sample suggested that someone in New York City might have been infected with the "Omikejong" variant as early as Nov. 21, four days before South African scientists first announced the case of the variant and ten days before the first case reported in the United States. Researchers in California and Texas also detected the "Omi keron" variant in wastewater samples in late November.

Scientists studying the COVID-19 virus have been tracking wastewater in New York City since the summer of 2020, sequencing viruses found in wastewater samples. On November 21, they took routine samples and sent them for testing two days later, with results in early December. At that time, the outbreak caused by the "Omikejong" strain had already broken out, and the researchers "recognized at a glance (the sample showed) the unique mutation characteristics of the new mutant strain."

Alexandria Boehm, an environmental engineer at Stanford University, said: "At first, it was uncertain whether this variant would come to the United States, but the wastewater sample answered the question, which is that the 'Omilon' variant definitely came to the United States." ”

But the study doesn't have conclusive evidence that the "Omiljung" variant exists in these cities because the virus present in the wastewater is fragmented.

One professional said: "I think no one would be surprised to see a new variant first appear in a big city like New York. ”

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