Reading the Genes of Microbes to Stop Diseases From Spreading

Abstract

COVID-19 has been challenging to stop because the virus was new to humans and keeps changing in ways that make it spread faster and cause disease in many people, which is called an epidemic. Health authorities and doctors must hurry to decide which protection measures, like closing borders or developing vaccines, will work to fight each kind of harmful microbe depending on how dangerous and widespread it is. Fortunately, a new scientific technique called whole genome sequencing can quickly spot and track pathogens—microbes that cause infectious diseases. Whole genome sequencing works well for both disease-causing viruses and bacteria. This technique can help scientists discover new epidemics and reveal how diseases are spreading, aiding health authorities in their quest to stop epidemics much faster. As diseases around the world are being tracked using this method, we stand a better chance of limiting future epidemics like COVID-19.