Towards a genomics-informed, real-time, global pathogen surveillance system

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Recent Ebola and Zika epidemics highlight critical needs in infectious disease management.
• Continuous surveillance, rapid diagnosis, and real-time tracking are essential for emerging threats.
• Pathogen genome sequencing is a vital tool in well-resourced public health laboratories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of pathogen genome sequencing in improving infectious disease surveillance and response.
• To propose a global, digital pathogen surveillance system integrating genomics and epidemiology.
• To emphasize the benefits of a One Health approach in this integrated system.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging fast, affordable pathogen genome sequencing.
• Integrating genomic diagnostics with epidemiological data.
• Utilizing innovative digital disease detection platforms.
• Adopting a One Health framework considering human, animal, and environmental health.

Main Results:

• Genomic sequencing directly supports surveillance, diagnosis, and tracking of infectious diseases.
• A digital surveillance system can be established by coupling genomic data with digital platforms.
• The proposed system shows significant potential for improving public health outcomes.
• This approach is particularly beneficial for settings with limited laboratory infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Fast, affordable pathogen genome sequencing is crucial for modern infectious disease control.
• An integrated, global digital surveillance system informed by One Health principles offers a powerful public health tool.
• This genomics-based strategy can significantly enhance disease management capacity, especially in resource-limited settings.