The vital role being played by COVID genomic sequencing

The Communicable Diseases Genomic Network (CDGN) co-chair Professor Ben Howden, featured on ABC Radio National’s Sunday Extra with Julian Morrow to discuss the important role genomic sequencing has played in the COVID-19 pandemic response.

While genomic sequencing has been used in public health microbiology in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a rapid approach to SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing to ensure public health agencies could respond according to the data in real-time.

Public health laboratories in every state and territory have worked collaboratively to ensure a rapid turn-around of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing and analysis utilising AusTrakka, the nationally recognised platform for real-time analysis of integrated pathogen genomic data for public health across Australia. When combined with epidemiological data, genomic sequencing data enables public health agencies to track the transmission of COVID-19, including tracking the emergence of new variants.