The leading public health organization in the country is broadening a plan to screen global travelers for COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses.

The CDC is asking international travelers to participate in their program by agreeing to a nasal swab and providing information about their recent travels. This program is currently in place at six airports, and the CDC announced that it will now be implemented at two additional airports – O’Hare in Chicago and Miami.

According to CDC officials, these locations will offer additional details on respiratory infections originating from South America, Africa, and Asia.

Allison Taylor Walker of the CDC stated that Miami and Chicago provide the opportunity to gather samples from regions with weaker global surveillance than before. The goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of worldwide events in order to be ready for future occurrences.

The initiative was launched in 2021 and has been praised for its ability to identify different strains of the coronavirus at a faster rate compared to other methods. The primary focus of the genetic analysis of nasal swabs from travelers has been the detection of COVID-19, but examinations are also being carried out for two other common respiratory viruses – influenza and RSV.

The findings of the participants are not conveyed to them. However, according to CDC officials, they are provided with a home test kit for COVID-19 to bring along.

According to officials, data has been collected from over 475,000 individuals who have traveled by air from more than 135 countries.

Health authorities have been conducting tests on wastewater from select airports that receive international flights. These tests are specifically for COVID-19, but the CDC is also considering the potential of monitoring wastewater for other substances, according to Walker.

The current allotted budget for the CDC program is approximately $37 million. Ginkgo Bioworks and XWell are contracted by the agency to conduct sample collection and testing. These companies are collaborating with the CDC to expand the program’s capabilities by detecting over 30 types of disease-causing microorganisms.

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