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In areas with intense transmission rates; in animal populations, for example in mink farms; and in places with high vaccination rates where the virus still circulates widely.
Yet yawning “blind spots” in the global surveillance network remain, with much of the world still relying on patchy testing and limited sequencing capacity – particularly in Africa and parts of South America. Dr Van Kerkhove said, pointing to a map hanging in his office. .
Accelerating efforts to close these gaps will be critical, not only to curb the spread of new variants of concern before they become dominant, but to better prepare for ‘disease X’ – a as yet unidentified pathogen with the potential to trigger another pandemic.
“Our blind spots are diminishing, but there is still a long way to go,” said Dr Van Kerkhove. “We’re trying to harness the energy, expertise, capabilities and funding of the world – because there is a lot of money in this area right now – to make sure we support and nurture what has begun.
“It’s a catalytic moment right now in terms of surveillance, in terms of sequencing – not just for Sars-Cov-2, but for the next ‘disease X’, and for all those emerging and re-emerging pathogens that we are following, “she added.
“The next ‘Disease X’ is here, so how do we capitalize on this traumatic experience the world is going through for infectious pathogens? “
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