Genomic sequencing: Vital tool to combat COVID-19 | McKinsey

A state-wide genomic sequencing infrastructure not only helps address COVID-19 today but is also a tool that enhances public health effectiveness in the long-term.

Without sequencing data, public health authorities are blind to viral mutations that may reduce the efficacy of current response tools (for example, safety protocols, tests, vaccines, and clinical care) and are unable to take precise public health action. Sequencing is a powerful tool that enables public health authorities to improve precision, efficacy, and efficiency of public health response.

Sequencing can be used for more efficient source identification of foodborne disease (for example, norovirus, E. coli, Salmonella, and Hepatitis A), ascertaining the origins of 'outlier' cases—those with no known connection to other cases—to contain further outbreaks (as was done in the latter phases of the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak in Guinea),6 and developing diagnostics and vaccines for novel viruses (as was the case with Zika in May of 2015)

https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/genomic-sequencing-a-vital-tool-in-combatting-the-pandemic

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