Notes from the Field: Early Evidence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant in Community Wastewater — United States, November–December 2021

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Predominance of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variants — United States, June 2021–January 2022

“…Third, current variant estimation analyses might differ from past analyses because of changes in PANGO lineage definitions over time. Finally, the presented dates correspond to clinical testing, and noted variants were likely present before these periods; for example, wastewater surveillance indicates that Omicron was circulating in the United States >1 week before the first reported case (10). CDC's national SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance program has expanded data sources and refined analytic methods to enhance the timeliness and accuracy of national and regional variant proportion estimates.…”

Estimating the period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron (BA.1) surge in New York City (NYC), January 1-March 16, 2022

“…1,9 The recent CDC metrics may be inadequate for informing timely public health countermeasures, including protecting and reaching those who are most at risk of a severe outcome. While wastewater surveillance 10 is an important tool for early detection of a surge, surveillance methods like routinely and strategically deployed surveys enables an assessment of the prevalence of infection as well as an assessment of the characteristics of populations, including vulnerable populations, that are infected, thereby providing critical epidemiologic intelligence between wastewater signals and possible future spikes in hospitalizations.…”

Omicron Genetic and Clinical Peculiarities That May Overturn SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Literature Review

“…However, according to analysis carried out by the National Wastewater Surveillance System, the detection of Omicron-associated mutations in community wastewater dates to at least a week before the first case was identified in the U.S. This suggests the possibility that variant tracking data from wastewater can be used as a complement to clinical testing for the early detection of emerging variants [41]. The second Omicron case in Europe was reported In North Italy in a patient travelling from Mozambique [42].…”