New TA on SARS-CoV2 Genome sequencing for IEDCR

At their 17th meeting in March, the Technical Assistance Committee approved a proposal to build the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research’s (IEDCR) SARS-CoV2 genomic sequencing ability. BHB with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will help implement the year-long project. Technical support will help strengthen the five-member team’s laboratory capacity; supply reagents and consumables for the genomic laboratory; create a genomic sequencing database covering demographic, epidemiological, laboratory, and vaccine status data; and send the sequenced data to the international GISAID Initiative, which promotes rapid information sharing on influenza viruses and SARS-CoV2. IEDCR will also share the sequencing report along with any SARS-CoV2 novel variant or changing pattern/ lineage to policy makers, donor agencies, and other stakeholders.