the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security ,the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with the potential for increased transmissibility has provided the motivation necessary to rapidly scale up genomic sequencing capacity, in the US and elsewhere. Some members of the scientific community argue that existing capacity is available, at least in terms of having adequate hardware, technicians, and infrastructure; however, there is a lack of funding available to conduct this type of research, particularly on a scale needed to monitor the evolution of a national epidemic. In the global context, the US ranks #36 in terms of the proportion of specimens sequenced (0.36% of confirmed cases), compared to #1 Denmark, which has sequenced more than half.
In an article published in Science, the US CDC program officer responsible for the genomic surveillance efforts for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants highlighted additional gaps in the system. Notably, linking samples and data from public health efforts to the sequencing technology is not necessarily a straightforward or direct process, and logistical solutions are necessary to enable the system to scale up the volume needed for COVID-19. The Biden Administration has called on the US Congress to authorize US$340 million dollars to support efforts to sequence 5% of all positive specimens. This number seems to be a middle ground, with some experts suggesting a loftier goal of 20%. Despite these efforts, there is still a sense that progress is moving too slowly. Mutation situation reports show that there are a number of notable SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern already circulating in the US, and public health and elected officials have a poor picture of the current prevalence of each of these variants. It is essential that the US and other countries develop better situational awareness of emerging variants, including the ability to rapidly detect those that emerge in the future.
Something is rotten in Denmark