The Biden administration is ramping up surveillance of biological samples from international passengers arriving at U.S. airports to scan for new virus variants
and other hazards to Americans’ health. | Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThe cramped, damp and poorly lit airplane toilet is among the scourges of air travel, a source of dread for young and old alike. But the deafening “swoosh” of the airplane lavatory may have finally found a higher calling: helping government scientists detect deadly viruses entering the United States.is ramping up surveillance
The small but growing Traveler Genomic Surveillance program, run by the CDC with a biotech firm and a company that collects samples, is seen by administration officials and public health experts as part of a revolution in biosafety infrastructure — and a critical plank of national security in the post-pandemic era.
The program now covers roughly 500 flights a day from some 30 countries. It’s voluntary: arriving passengers, after customs, can stop at a booth, answer a few questions, and give a nasal swab to the program staff.
“Relying on individuals to volunteer to get Covid tested at this phase of the pandemic is really challenging,” said Megan Diamond, director of global health partnerships at the Rockefeller Foundation. “You’re going to have a biased sample. People who are doing it are the people who are more likely to do an antigen test before they left home.”
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