FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County officials said they will begin monitoring wastewater for both COVID-19 and a new global threat, monkeypox.
The county announced that it will collect wastewater from the county’s treatment plants and regularly test untreated wastewater.
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“Through regular testing of the wastewater, the County and Emory University can measure the amount of the viruses and see whether the levels are increasing or decreasing within the area served by the treatment plant,” officials said. “This can be an early warning sign of increasing cases within a community.”
The World Health Organization named the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency over the weekend.
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Georgia has reported 211 cases of monkeypox, a smallpox-like illness that can cause a blistering rash, fever, headache, fatigue and chills, among other symptoms.
Georgia is one of just five U.S. states with more than 200 cases of the virus.
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So far, most of the cases in Georgia have been among men who have sex with men.
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