SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New data from Stanford University is shedding light on the status of monkeypox transmission in Sacramento County. Wastewater samples have been collected in Sacramento and Davis as part of the University's sewer coronavirus alert network (SCAN).

The samples from Sacramento were tested for the presence of monkeypox DNA and results from July 17 through July 31 consistently returned evidence that monkeypox DNA is in the city's wastewater.

Results from wastewater samples in the city of Davis showed no evidence of monkeypox DNA. Scientists and health officials are now using the data to research whether the results are consistent with any increased transmission of the virus.