FK-KMK UGM. Research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus is being developed recently, one of which is detecting the virus through wastewater samples obtained from the surrounding environment. Early detection through this sample is expected to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
This research topic is also being carried out by the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM. Therefore, the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Population Health in collaboration with the Knowledge Channel of FKKMK UGM held a Wednesday Seminar with the theme “SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Using Wastewater and Environmental Sampling in Indonesia?”, Wednesday (6/10) online via the zoom platform. and broadcast live on the FK-KMK UGM YouTube channel.
The three resource persons who attended were Professor Julie Bines from Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia – Deputy Head of Paediatrics University of Melbourne. Also present, dr. Indah Kartika Murni, M.Kes., PhD, Sp.A(K) as Lecturer at the Department of Child Health and Researcher at the Center for Child Health Studies (PKKA-PRO) FK-KMK UGM and dr. Vicka Oktaria, MPH, PhD as Lecturer of the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Population Health and Researcher of the Center for Child Health Studies (PKKA-PRO) FK-KMK UGM. The event was also moderated by dr. Tiara Marthias., MPH., Ph.D as Lecturer of the Department of Health Policy and Management FKKMK UGM.
“Symptoms of digestive diseases such as diarrhea often occur in Covid-19 patients, so detecting wastewater containing the feces of COVID-19 patients will make it easier to trace the spread of the virus,” explained Prof. Julie when delivering material on the relationship between the SARS-CoV2 virus and digestion.
Furthermore, dr. Beautiful and dr. Vicka delivered material on the implementation of the detection of the SARS-CoV2 virus with wastewater carried out in Indonesia. “Currently we have conducted research to detect this virus using wastewater taken from manholes, rivers and swimming pools in Yogyakarta, besides that samples were also taken from soil in market areas, schools, hotels, and also malls.”
At the end of the session, the three resource persons hoped that more research of this kind would be carried out in Indonesia so that the monitoring of Covid-19 tracing was higher and could suppress the spread. (Yuga/Reporter)
