How genomic sequencing gives authorities a 'high resolution' understanding of COVID-19 outbreaks | rachelclun
While Victoria's genomic sequencing of the outbreaks in Melbourne are kept under wraps, experts and politicians say such information is not as important for NSW.
Professor Vitali Sintchenko, director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health at the University of Sydney and a microbiologist with NSW Health Pathology, said whole genome mapping provides the fingerprints of each virus sample, which can be compared with other samples to provide a deeper understanding of the spread of the disease.
Professor Sintchenko said this has been particularly helpful in cases where epidemiologists had not been able to link cases due sometimes to people forgetting to mention things that may help trace the source. The grant is focused on this challenge and because of it Professor Sintchenko's team has begun a project to improve the sensitivity in genome mapping, with the aim to further strenghen outbreak tracing in NSW.
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