Columbus, Ohio (WSYX) — A scientist discovered a strange trend while studying wastewater samples.
University of Missouri professor Mark Johnson, Ph.D., said he believes someone in central Ohio is suffering from a chronic case of COVID-19, the longest-lasting viral infection he has ever seen. said to be one of
“There are people who are probably pretty sick and probably don’t know why,” Johnson said.
Johnson has been studying COVID-19 in wastewater samples since 2020. Looking at Ohio data, samples from Columbus and Washington courts stood out.
“I was just doing my job and couldn’t explain anything,” he said. “So I kept investigating until I figured it out, but there seems to be more going on than we know.”
He said data from wastewater samples collected from the Sutherley sewage treatment plant in Columbus and the Washington Courthouse showed a rare circumstance. He believes one person has chronically had Covid-19 for more than two years.
“It’s on the edge, one of the longest and biggest drops we’ve seen,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the same lineage was found in samples taken on the same day, so he predicts that the individual lives in Columbus and works for the Washington courts.
“The exact same lineage appeared in two different sewer huts, usually on the same day and over time thereafter,” he said.
A potential person isn’t spreading the virus, Johnson said, as evidenced by wastewater samples.
“There is nothing to panic about,” he said. “Probably only one person is worried.”
He said the virus was likely causing problems in the human gut.
“They may think they have IBD or Crohn’s disease, but it’s something else,” he says. “We’re not trying to hunt them down. We’re just trying to spread information, because maybe somebody’s in pretty bad shape. I mean, maybe this isn’t a good thing.” It takes a large-scale infection to shed so much virus.”
Johnson also said connecting with the person could help scientists better understand chronic infections.
Both Dr. Johnson and the Ohio Department of Health said it was not a threat to public health.
Anyone who believes they may be affected may contact Johnson by emailing [email protected].
