Top in ID: COVID transmission via sewage, new indication for HIV test

A broken sewage pipe might have caused a small outbreak of COVID-19 in China, according to recent study. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story was about a new indication for Hologic’s HIV assay. In addition to viral load monitoring, the test can also now be used to diagnose HIV.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

Broken sewage pipe might have caused small COVID-19 outbreak in China

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that a broken sewage pipe might have been the cause of a small outbreak of COVID-19 in a Chinese city, researchers recently reported. Read more.

FDA approves first combined test for HIV diagnosis and viral load monitoring

The Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx assay (Hologic) is now also approved for diagnosing HIV — the first dual-claim assay for diagnosis and viral load monitoring in the United States, the manufacturer said. Read more.

CDC advises against Thanksgiving travel as US records 1 million new cases in a week

The CDC strongly advised against traveling this Thanksgiving after the United States reported more than 1 million new cases of COVID-19 in the last 7 days. Read more.

Pfizer, BioNTech submit to FDA, say vaccine will be ready ‘within hours’ of authorization

The first COVID-19 vaccine could be available for use in high-risk populations as early as mid-December after Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to submit an emergency use authorization request to the FDA. Read more.

Rate of HIV-related deaths in US falls 48%

The rate of HIV-related deaths among people with HIV fell by more than 48% from 2010 to 2017, CDC researchers reported in MMWR. Read more.