Using Whole Genome Sequencing and Social Network Analysis to Track Disease

Explore a groundbreaking approach to disease outbreak investigation in this 43-minute conference talk from the American Society for Microbiology. Discover how combining whole genome DNA sequencing with social network analysis revolutionized the solving of a mysterious tuberculosis outbreak that had stumped traditional epidemiological methods. Learn about the application of this innovative technique in various contexts, including the US anthrax investigation and measles outbreaks. Delve into topics such as environmental stressors, crack cocaine's role, hot spots of change, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and the concept of super spreaders. Gain insights into the challenges of delayed diagnosis, TB exposure, and the potential of genomic diversity in predicting future outbreaks. Engage with questions from Twitter, Science News, and UC Davis as the speaker, Jennifer Gardy from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, addresses the implications and future of this cutting-edge methodology in public health.