Real-time public health communication of local SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology.
Chaney C KalinichCole G JensenPeter NeugebauerMary E PetroneMario Peña-HernándezIsabel M OttChantal B F VogelsTara D AlpertChantal B F VogelsJoseph R FauverNathan D GrubaughAnderson F BritoPublished in: PLoS biology (2020)
Genomic epidemiology can provide a unique, real-time understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission patterns. Yet the potential for genomic analyses to guide local policy and community-based behavioral decisions is limited because they are often oriented towards specially trained scientists and conducted on a national or global scale. Here, we propose a new paradigm: Phylogenetic analyses performed on a local level (municipal, county, or state), with results communicated in a clear, timely, and actionable manner to strengthen public health responses. We believe that presenting results rapidly, and tailored to a non-expert audience, can serve as a template for effective public health response to COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases.
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