270
R. Majumdar
(Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services, which deters the overall ability to control
the spread of COVID-19, as well as, to recuperate from the pandemic quickly [52].
Such a scenario necessitates a thorough evaluation of the sludge samples using
demographic information, epidemiological and clinical characteristics, followed by
characterization and quantification of the pathogenic materials present in the municipal sludge generated in urban centres. Moreover, it is also of importance to identify
suitable sludge hygienisation techniques, looking at the adaptive and resilient nature
of the virus strain.
This chapter aims to look at the nature of interaction between the environment
and SARS-CoV-2 viral strains, with a view towards having an insight into the transmission pathways of the pandemic. It also aims to establish the potential connection
between the infected urban wastewater and the spread of the pandemic. Finally,
the chapter also addresses a suitable sludge hygienisation technique and discusses
the key features associated with the implementation. The novel contribution of this
present analysis encompasses the detailed cost analysis of proposed intervention and
the long-term beneficial impacts. Such an intervention would help in releasing the
tremendous pressure that has been put on the healthcare facilities worldwide by this
novel pandemic, in terms of resources, as well as, the treatment regimen.
11.2 Interaction Between COVID-19 Virus Particles
and the Surrounding (the Host and the Environment)
Most of the human coronaviruses belong to the genera Alpha-coronavirus and Betacoronavirus and are usually responsible for mild respiratory illness. However, the two
Beta-coronaviruses, viz. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have been found to be highly
pathogenic, and especially the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been known to
invoke a wide range of symptoms among the patients, ranging from regular symptoms
such as fever, dry cough, loss of taste, smell and tiredness, to the severe symptoms,
viz. difficulty in breathing, acute chest pain and even loss of speech or movement
[53]. However, acute and severe syndromes have been found in only about 5% of
the COVID-19 patients. Therefore, the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 virus
particulates and its surrounding, which includes both the host and the environment,
becomes essential in order to break this chain of aggressive pandemic.
The interaction of critical pathogens (responsible for several water-borne, as well
as, other diseases) present in the fecal sludge and municipal wastewater, viz. viruses,
bacteria, protists and helminths, with environment is very complex in nature. It
is noteworthy that majority of the bacteria, protists and helminths are zoonotic
pathogens. Although several parasitic zoonotic pathogens that are transmitted via
the fecal–oral route are known to cross the species barrier and spread infection
among a sizeable human population; the pathways through which the pathogens
emerge from the host (animal reservoir) and the mechanism behind their subsequent
persistence within the human population are some of the key issues that are not
R. Majumdar
(Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services, which deters the overall ability to control
the spread of COVID-19, as well as, to recuperate from the pandemic quickly [52].
Such a scenario necessitates a thorough evaluation of the sludge samples using
demographic information, epidemiological and clinical characteristics, followed by
characterization and quantification of the pathogenic materials present in the municipal sludge generated in urban centres. Moreover, it is also of importance to identify
suitable sludge hygienisation techniques, looking at the adaptive and resilient nature
of the virus strain.
This chapter aims to look at the nature of interaction between the environment
and SARS-CoV-2 viral strains, with a view towards having an insight into the transmission pathways of the pandemic. It also aims to establish the potential connection
between the infected urban wastewater and the spread of the pandemic. Finally,
the chapter also addresses a suitable sludge hygienisation technique and discusses
the key features associated with the implementation. The novel contribution of this
present analysis encompasses the detailed cost analysis of proposed intervention and
the long-term beneficial impacts. Such an intervention would help in releasing the
tremendous pressure that has been put on the healthcare facilities worldwide by this
novel pandemic, in terms of resources, as well as, the treatment regimen.
11.2 Interaction Between COVID-19 Virus Particles
and the Surrounding (the Host and the Environment)
Most of the human coronaviruses belong to the genera Alpha-coronavirus and Betacoronavirus and are usually responsible for mild respiratory illness. However, the two
Beta-coronaviruses, viz. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have been found to be highly
pathogenic, and especially the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been known to
invoke a wide range of symptoms among the patients, ranging from regular symptoms
such as fever, dry cough, loss of taste, smell and tiredness, to the severe symptoms,
viz. difficulty in breathing, acute chest pain and even loss of speech or movement
[53]. However, acute and severe syndromes have been found in only about 5% of
the COVID-19 patients. Therefore, the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 virus
particulates and its surrounding, which includes both the host and the environment,
becomes essential in order to break this chain of aggressive pandemic.
The interaction of critical pathogens (responsible for several water-borne, as well
as, other diseases) present in the fecal sludge and municipal wastewater, viz. viruses,
bacteria, protists and helminths, with environment is very complex in nature. It
is noteworthy that majority of the bacteria, protists and helminths are zoonotic
pathogens. Although several parasitic zoonotic pathogens that are transmitted via
the fecal–oral route are known to cross the species barrier and spread infection
among a sizeable human population; the pathways through which the pathogens
emerge from the host (animal reservoir) and the mechanism behind their subsequent
persistence within the human population are some of the key issues that are not