The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is broadening its health surveillance efforts at four significant US airports, expanding monitoring to encompass more than 30 pathogens, including influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and various respiratory viruses. This expansion builds upon the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program, initially established during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The main objective is to detect and monitor new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens by collecting nasal swabs and wastewater samples from travelers arriving at US airports.
As of now, the program has conducted tests on over 370,000 travelers, with an average of around 6,000 volunteers per week from over 135 countries. Additionally, more than 14,000 samples have been sequenced for in-depth analysis.
The program, initially active in seven prominent US airports for monitoring Covid-19, is expanding its scope. It will now encompass over 30 different pathogens, including influenza A and B, as well as RSV, at several airports including San Francisco International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York among others.
Dr. Cindy Friedman, who heads the CDC’s traveler genomic surveillance program and leads the agency’s Travelers’ Health Branch, emphasizes the importance of targeting travelers as a critical group for tracking emerging infections.
Launched in 2021, the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program involves collecting nasal swabs voluntarily provided by anonymous international travelers at participating airports.
In August 2022, the CDC introduced a wastewater surveillance program, gathering wastewater from individual planes through specialized collection devices. These samples undergo RT-PCR testing in a laboratory, with positive samples for specific pathogens, like Covid-19, undergoing whole genome sequencing for variant identification. Dr. Friedman highlights the significance of this approach, where a single sample from a flight can provide valuable health information about 200 to 300 passengers.
Partnering with Ginkgo Bioworks, a biotechnology company focused on global biosecurity infrastructure, the CDC aims to bolster its surveillance efforts. These programs, including the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance initiative, seek to proactively identify and respond to various biological threats to prevent potential health crises akin to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program, combining wastewater testing and nasal swabbing, has identified several Covid-19 variants entering the US up to six weeks earlier than official nationwide reporting. Notable variants detected include Omicron BA.2, BA.3, XBB, and BA.2.86. Presently, the program is shifting its focus to monitoring common respiratory viruses as the season for flu & cold is fast approaching.
While the rate of Covid-19 hospitalizations has remained steady, with over 15,700 hospital admissions per 100,000 people by the week ending October 28, there has been no significant change in Covid-19-related deaths, with under 600 deaths reported during the same period. Conversely, the flu season is slowly rising, although activity remains low, with 189 reported influenza cases for the week ending October 28, where 77% were influenza A and 23% were influenza B. Dr. Friedman stresses the importance of sequencing these fall respiratory pathogens to comprehend their genetic composition and detect potential strain variations.
