SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Researchers have found evidence of what could be another COVID-19 variant in California's wastewater.
The research team at UC Berkeley found a descendant of the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewage, but it's still unclear exactly where it came from, and how much of a problem it might present going forward.
This new evidence isn't exactly a variant, according to Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease Specialist.
"I would call it probably some strange genetic sequences that look like a variant," he said. "But we're not really sure what the significance is."
"We're not really sure where it comes from, does it come from a human, does it come from an animal, it's really unclear," said Chin-Hong, who wasn’t himself involved in this sewer study.
The Berkeley team who discovered the virus is reporting that it hasn't led to any outbreaks at this point. The actual site of the discovery has not been disclosed.
This isn't the only time this type of viral fragment has been discovered, similar cases have come out of New York and Missouri.
For Chin-Hong, this latest discovery feels less like something to worry about, and more as a reminder that the pandemic is still going on, and vaccination is key.
"It sounds like a broken record, but inside immunity, our B cells and T cells are adaptive, so they can shape-shift," he said. "And give us a strong defense, even against an enemy they haven’t seen before that looks similar to what your vaccine has provided."
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