Chances of integrated genomic surveillance for global health protection

During the COVID-19 pandemic, integrated genomic surveillance quickly tracked the spread and evolution of the virus, enabling the rapid development e.g. of public health strategies and vaccines. In the journal Frontiers in Science, clinical and public health microbiologists represented by the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) including experts from RKI recommend implementing genomic surveillance globally to protect against future infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. These efforts should span human, animal, and environmental health in a ‘One Health’ approach, and include all regions, the authors write.

IGS means that data from different sources are linked together – e.g. DNA sequencing of pathogen isolates from patients are combined with epidemiological information form the notifying system. At RKI, IGS plays a major role in identifying outbreaks, tracking changes in pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.