Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Omigron strain, there is one bright point that we should not ignore. This new strain and its genetic sequence was quickly discovered in South Africa, which carried a large number of mutations and immediately alerted the rest of the world that transmitters may be faster and more immune-discounted than previous mutations.

Scientists in South Africa provide us with an overview of the future we need, a global early warning system that uses genetic system monitoring to detect and monitor disease changes and spreads. A drawing made by the smallest building blocks of life. This information is quickly transmitted and used to develop treatments and vaccines. However, such surveillance is not yet global, but both South Africa and the United Kingdom have demonstrated its importance.

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, learned about the new strain from Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Infection and Innovation, who spoke on the need for tools in the genetic system of the virus since the onset of the epidemic. For pre-warning and monitoring. South Africa was ready when the Omigran strain began to appear on new events on November 11. In June 2020, it established the Genetic System Surveillance Network, linking its laboratories and research institutes. The South African network quickly compared the genetic makeup of the new strain with other strains and discovered a large number of mutations, including the spikey protein that causes the virus to enter human cells, and then passed this information on to the World Health Organization and scientists. All over the world.

Ideally, these networks should be ready everywhere and at all times. The United States is developing the use of the genetic system to monitor and monitor strains during epidemics, but it lags far behind some other countries. The need for global cooperation in public health has long been hampered by the idea of ​​this week’s special session at the World Health Organization, countries’ refusal to share samples and information, and funding for monitoring and scattered epidemiological and medical information. Separated from the genetic system, which makes it difficult to pinpoint where the dots are. The Rockefeller Foundation has announced it will invest $ 1 billion to build a broader platform to overcome these obstacles.

The need to expedite vaccinations around the world is even more important. Although the Delta mutation continues to plague the United States and the world, scientists will determine in the coming weeks whether the Omigron strain is an indicator of new dangers. It is time to take advantage of the genetic system and exchange information to create a powerful global active radar for disease surveillance, otherwise we will fly blind in the face of another dangerous storm

Scientists in South Africa provide us with an overview of the future we need, a global early warning system that uses genetic system tracking to detect and monitor disease changes and spreads based on the sequences of the entire genome.

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