Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

The Traveler Genomic Surveillance program, run by the Travelers’ Health Branch at CDC in partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks and XpresSpa Group, plays an important role in U.S. national surveillance by testing travelers to detect new variants entering the country and fill gaps in global surveillance.

GeoSentinel

GeoSentinel is a worldwide clinical-care-based network for the surveillance and research of travel-related illnesses. GeoSentinel seeks to minimize transmission of infectious disease by working collaboratively with clinical and research experts worldwide to improve the understanding of disease dynamics through surveillance, response, and communication. It is funded through a cooperative agreement between CDC’s Travelers’ Health Branch and the International Society of Travel Medicine.

Global TravEpiNet (GTEN)

GTEN is a network of travel clinics across the United States. The network is aimed at improving the health of those who travel internationally and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Medical Tourism Surveillance System (MTSS)

The MTSS is a CDC program that collects information on health complications associated with medical tourism (traveling outside the United States for medical care). The system supports public health monitoring and improves our understanding of the risks of medical tourism which will inform prevention, outbreak detection, and traveler health guidance. For public health professionals who need access to this system, please email medicaltourism@cdc.gov.