Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -Photo Credit: REUTERS
CDC advisory committee (ACIP) meets in Atlanta to discuss childhood vaccine schedule changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(Washington, DC)–The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has surpassed one million voluntary participants in its Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program, a milestone that strengthens the United States’ ability to detect emerging public health threats at international entry points.
Announced January 30 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the program collects anonymous, voluntary samples from travelers arriving at select U.S. airports. The data provides early insight into new pathogens and virus variants before they spread widely within the country.
HHS Deputy Secretary and Acting CDC Director, Jim O’Neill, said the program’s growth reflects public trust and strengthens national preparedness. He emphasized that the surveillance tools are developed and governed domestically, supporting U.S. public health independence while enhancing border biosecurity.
Launched in 2021, TGS focuses on early detection of seasonal respiratory viruses and other pathogens of concern. In one example, the program identified an influenza H3N2 subclade and reported it to public databases a full week before additional sequences were publicly documented, demonstrating the program’s value in early warning and rapid response.
The initiative operates through public-private partnerships with organizations including Ginkgo Biosecurity and XWell, along with cooperation from participating airports. These collaborations allow CDC to generate surveillance data even when testing information may be limited in other regions of the world.
Participation in TGS remains voluntary and anonymous. Beyond traveler samples, CDC has also analyzed more than 2,600 aircraft wastewater samples as part of its broader biosurveillance strategy.
Federal health officials say programs like TGS support the administration’s commitment to strengthening domestic public health capabilities and maintaining U.S. leadership in infectious disease detection and response.
*This article is for informational purposes only
