‘It’s not unusual;’ Local community’s wastewater details viruses in area

GREENE COUNTY — A local community is having their wastewater tested to figure out what viruses are in the area.

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This week, Yellow Springs residents were told that there is influenza in the area because it’s been detected in the resident’s waste multiple times.

Right now, Ohio has a very high level of flu cases, according to the state’s health department. In the Miami Valley, there have been 56 hospitalizations since Dec. 30, 2023.

On WHIO TV Tonight, Brandon Lewis spoke with health workers who explained the science behind wastewater testing and how it is helpful.

The village said the Ohio Department of Health found consecutive detections of “Influenza A Viral Gene Copies” in untreated wastewater and the Yellow Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Donald Brannen is an epidemiologist at Greene County Public Health, and he explained why wastewater testing can be important.

“We have to excrete the viruses after it’s been after it’s been deactivated by our body into the toilet and that can be sent out to the wastewater stream,” Brannen said.

This allows for the wastewater to be tested for viruses.

“It’s not unusual for wastewater this time of year to come up with signs of influenza because it’s flu season,” he said.

Brannen said the testing helps health leaders potentially predict what they’ll see this flu season.

“We can sort of anticipate ahead of a cluster of cases in the community that maybe there’s some activity going on that is subclinical, and by subcloning, I mean, people maybe have the flu, but aren’t that sick,” he said.

>>RELATED: Flu activity ‘very high’ across state, Ohio Department of Health says

Wastewater treatment shouldn’t cause worry, but it should serve as a reminder that the flu is here and getting rest, exercise, and a flu shot could help keep people healthy, Brannen said.

Yellow Springs resident Tony Lewis never got a flu shot, until recently.

“I got my flu shot a few months ago. Ever since COVID-19, I’ve been like, way more aware of like, keeping up with my, you know, vaccines and everything,” Lewis said.

The interim village manager said they’ve partnered with the Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Health for this testing.

He said they test for viruses all year.

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