The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 has been detected in wastewater samples taken at some Kansas City area wastewater treatment facilities, according to tracking by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The water is not a danger to the public, officials say, but it is a sign that the variant is taking hold in the area.

The data comes as Missouri earned the dubious honor of having the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections in the United States, racking up a 72% increase over the last two weeks, according to a New York Times analysis. And it comes with new concerns over the rapid spread of this variant.