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Latest Technology Could Aid Disease Response

Friday 02 Oct 15

'We cannot afford to wait for the next outbreak of infectious disease before putting effective systems in place to safeguard public health.'

Professor Mark Woolhouse: Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh

'Real-time analysis of virus genomes such as Ebola is an important addition to our toolkit for investigating disease outbreaks. When combined with the date and location of the sample, we can determine how the virus spreads. These technologies can improve the management of an outbreak, thereby saving lives.'

Professor Paul Kellam: Group Leader of Virus Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Recent advances have the potential to improve the information available and the response to outbreaks

Partners in the COMPARE project (University of Edinburgh and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) reviewed the global response to the recent Ebola outbreak.

The shortcomings they found in response to this outbreak highlight the need for stronger global surveillance. Advanced tools are available, such as rapid patient testing and fast genetic analysis of viruses could help the response and save lives.

Their review article was just published in Science Translation Medicine.