Air Traveler Genomic Surveillance Expands in 2023

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers’ Health today announced the expansion of the Traveler Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program to two additional U.S. airports, Los Angeles and Seattle.

This expansion is helping the CDC to detect new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variants among international air travelers.

U.S. airports are visited by more than 1 billion travelers annually and can serve as the front line for public health officials to detect the virus that causes COVID-19.

Recently, the TGS program was among the first globally to identify BQ.1.1 and contributed towards its designation as a sub-lineage. 

TGS also has been among the first to identify and report BA.2.75.2, XBB, and CH.1.1 in the U.S.

In total, the TGS program currently has sites in seven major U.S. international airports:

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City

Los Angeles International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport 

San Francisco International Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport 

The next time you travel through one of these airports, stop by the TGS booth, volunteer to participate, and receive a free COVID-19 at-home test kit for your time contributing to public health, stated the CDC on January 26, 2023.