Implementation of a COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network for Latin America and Caribbean region

• Published in: PloS one 2022-03, Vol.17 (3), p.e0252526
• Main Authors: Leite, Juliana Almeida, Vicari, Andrea, Perez, Enrique, Siqueira, Marilda, Resende, Paola, Motta, Fernando Couto, Freitas, Lucas, Fernandez, Jorge, Parra, Barbara, Castillo, Andrés, Fasce, Rodrigo, Martinez Caballero, Alexander Augusto, Gresh, Lionel, Aldighieri, Sylvain, Gabastou, Jean-Marc, Franco, Leticia, Mendez-Rico, Jairo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Caribbean Islands; Caribbean Region - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - virology; Decision analysis; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Etiology; Genome, Viral; Genomics; Genomics - methods; Humans; Laboratories; Latin America; Latin America - epidemiology; Medical research; Medicine and health sciences; Medicine, Experimental; Methods; Mitigation; Pandemics; People and places; Public Health; Research and Analysis Methods; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Sentinel health events; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Surveillance; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252526

The timely release of SARS-CoV-2 first genomic sequences allowed the identification of the etiologic agent and development of diagnostic protocols. Genomic sequencing was a crucial step in generating data for driving laboratory response and detections of SARS-CoV-2 since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of all the progression and achievements that timely release of genetic sequence data represents in the public health response, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with countries' public health laboratories, started implementation of a network for strengthening the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region on timely generation of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data. Here we describe the implementation of the COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network in the Americas region during the beginning of the pandemic. The establishment of this network has strengthened laboratory response capacity at the country level, as well as facilitated timely release of SARS-CoV-2 genomic information to be used to complement the multiple response strategies for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation. As genomic epidemiology is useful for guiding public health decisions on outbreak and response, we also analysed the first SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence data from countries of the Latin America and Caribbean Region.