NAT has a wide range of applications in epidemiology:
1. Disease Surveillance: NAT is used to monitor the presence of pathogens in a population, providing real-time data on infection rates. 2. Outbreak Investigation: It helps identify the source and spread of outbreaks, enabling timely interventions. 3. Vaccine Efficacy: NAT can measure the viral load in vaccinated individuals, assessing the effectiveness of vaccines. 4. Antimicrobial Resistance: NAT can detect genes associated with resistance, guiding treatment options. 5. Zoonotic Diseases: It helps in identifying pathogens that have jumped from animals to humans.
