CDC Expands Traveler COVID-19 Testing to Include Chicago and Miami Airports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is broadening its health surveillance program that conducts COVID-19 testing among international travelers. This expansion will now include Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Miami International Airport, alongside the existing six airports already participating. This initiative aims to bolster the detection of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by analyzing nasal swabs from volunteer passengers and gathering travel-related data.

By incorporating these two key airports, the CDC intends to enhance monitoring of respiratory infections originating from South America, Africa, and Asia. Allison Taylor Walker of the CDC highlighted the importance of global surveillance in preparing for future health threats, noting that the inclusion of Miami and Chicago will provide a comprehensive overview of infectious disease trends worldwide.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has played a crucial role in identifying coronavirus variants more rapidly than other methods. Although primarily focused on COVID-19, the initiative also tests for influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) through the genomic analysis of collected samples.

Travelers participating in the program do not receive their test results. However, they are provided with a COVID-19 home test kit as a precautionary measure. So far, over 475,000 passengers from more than 135 countries have contributed samples to this critical public health effort.

In addition to swab testing, the CDC has been analyzing wastewater from international flights at select airports to detect COVID-19 presence. The agency is considering extending this wastewater surveillance to identify a broader range of pathogens, according to Walker.

With a current budget of approximately $37 million, the CDC’s expanded program is supported by collaborations with Ginkgo Bioworks and XWell, two companies tasked with sample collection and testing. These partnerships aim to scale the program further to monitor for over 30 different pathogens, underscoring the CDC’s commitment to global health security and preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, apnews.com