What are the applications of WGS in public health?
WGS has several critical applications in public health:
Outbreak Investigation: During outbreaks, WGS can identify the source and track the spread of the pathogen, facilitating control measures. Surveillance: Continuous monitoring of pathogen genomes helps in early detection of emerging threats and in monitoring the effectiveness of interventions. Vaccine Development: WGS data can identify new targets for vaccines and assess the impact of vaccination programs on pathogen populations. Global Health: WGS supports international efforts to combat infectious diseases by providing data that can be shared and analyzed globally.
