SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe

Lorlane Le Targa; Nathalie Wurtz; Alexandre Lacoste; Gwilherm Penant; Priscilla Jardot; Alexandre Annessi; Philippe Colson; Bernard La Scola; Sarah Aherfi

doi:10.3390/v14071511

SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aircraft Wastewater Shows That Mandatory Tests and Vaccination Pass before Boarding Did Not Prevent Massive Importation of Omicron Variant into Europe

Viruses. 2022 Jul 9;14(7):1511. doi: 10.3390/v14071511.

Authors

Lorlane Le Targa^{1

2

3}, Nathalie Wurtz^{1

2}, Alexandre Lacoste⁴, Gwilherm Penant^{1

2}, Priscilla Jardot^{1

2}, Alexandre Annessi⁴, Philippe Colson^{1

2}, Bernard La Scola^{1

2}, Sarah Aherfi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Microbes Evolution PHylogénie et Infections, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France.
² Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.
³ Biosellal, 27 Chemin des Peupliers, 69570 Lyon, France.
⁴ Bataillon des Marins Pompiers de la ville de Marseille, 13005 Marseille, France.

Abstract

Background: Most new SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in France occurred following the importation from abroad of emerging viral variants. Currently, the risk of new variants being imported is controlled based on a negative screening test (PCR or antigenic) and proof of up-to-date vaccine status, such as the International Air Transport Association travel pass.

Methods: The wastewater from two planes arriving in Marseille (France) from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in December 2021 was tested by RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV2 and screen for variants. These tests were carried out between landing and customs clearance and were then sequenced by MiSeq Illumina. Antigenic tests and sequencing by NovaSeq were carried out on respiratory samples collected from the 56 passengers on the second flight.

Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA suspected of being from the Omicron BA.1 variant was detected in the aircraft's wastewater. SARS-CoV2 RNA was detected in 11 [20%) passengers and the Omicron BA.1 variant was identified.

Conclusion: Our work shows the efficiency of aircraft wastewater testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 cases among travellers and to identify the viral genotype. It also highlights the low efficacy of the current control strategy for flights entering France from outside Europe, which combines a requirement to produce a vaccine pass and proof of a negative test before boarding.

Keywords: SARS-CoV2; aircraft; surveillance; variant spread; wastewater monitoring.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aircraft
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19* / diagnosis
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Ethiopia
Europe
Humans
RNA, Viral / analysis
RNA, Viral / genetics
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
Vaccination
Wastewater

Substances

RNA, Viral
Waste Water

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the French Government under the “Investissements d’avenir” (Investments for the Future) programme managed by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR, French National Agency for Research), reference: Méditerranée Infection 10-IAHU-03.