Global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential 2022-2032

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 100; no. 4; pp. 239 - 239A
• Main Authors: Carter, Lisa L, Yu, M Anne, Sacks, Jilian A, Barnadas, Céline, Pereyaslov, Dmitriy, Cognat, Sébastien, Briand, Sylvie, Ryan, Michael J, Samaan, Gina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland World Health Organization 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Antimicrobial resistance; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Data retrieval; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Disease resistance; Disease transmission; Donors; Drug resistance; Ebola virus; Epidemics; Gene sequencing; Genomics; Health aspects; Health surveillance; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Influenza; Information sharing; International regulations; Laboratories; Pandemics; Pathogens; Pneumonia; Poliomyelitis; Public Health; Regional development; Regions; Regulation; Respiratory diseases; Sequences; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Surveillance; Teams; Variants; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 0042-9686; 1564-0604; 1564-0604
• DOI: 10.2471/BLT.22.288220

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic marked a breakpoint for genomic surveillance. The first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) genetic sequences were shared on 10 January 2020, ten days after the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a cluster of pneumonia in China.1 Scientists across the globe immediately started developing countermeasures and the first diagnostic assay was made available on 13 January 2020.1,2 The speed of data sharing and pathogen characterization was unprecedented. Genomic surveillance was consistently used during the pandemic to monitor virus evolution and transmission, and to identify variants of concern that may impact countermeasures.During the pandemic, the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee for COVID-19 repeatedly recommended for State Parties to strengthen genomic surveillance strategies.3 The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recently recommended regular funding for the delivery of specific global goods including genomic sequencing.4 In May 2021, through resolution 74.7, the World Health Assembly urged Member States to increase their capacity to detect new threats, including through laboratory techniques such as genomic sequencing.5 WHO began a process in July 2021 to develop a strategy to drive a unified vision on global genomic surveillance for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential.WHO undertook a multistep consultative process to develop the strategy. Stakeholders consulted include global, regional and country networks, key partners such as philanthropies, donors, public health institutions, One Health partners, and WHO global and regional teams. Experts from global programmes such as polio, influenza, Ebola virus disease, antimicrobial resistance, human immunodeficiency virus and COVID-19 helped refine the strategy's technical orientation considering the broader needs and the 10-year horizon.