Within the framework of national efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response, PAHO supported the consolidation of an integrated national genomic surveillance platform aimed at the timely detection, monitoring, and characterization of public health threats.

Technical cooperation focused on expanding and articulating key capacities of the surveillance system through specialized training and the strategic provision of supplies, enabling the incorporation of metagenomic approaches, the use of state-of-the-art nanopore-based sequencing technologies, and the strengthening of viral isolation processes. These actions significantly enhanced the country’s analytical capacity to identify emerging pathogens and prioritize risks in the context of outbreaks and public health events.

In addition, PAHO promoted the development and expansion of national bioinformatics analysis capacity through training processes and the integration of experts from the national reference laboratory into specialized technical networks. This strengthening optimized the interpretation and use of genomic data for decision-making, improving the timeliness, quality, and relevance of the health response.

By consolidating a genomic surveillance system aligned with international standards and integrated into epidemiological surveillance, the country is strengthening its capacity to anticipate, detect, and respond early to public health emergencies. This progress enhances health system resilience, reduces the risk of the undetected spread of health threats, and generates long-term benefits for health security, with particular relevance for the protection of populations and territories in situations of vulnerability. 

Credit: PAHO