>>>
WELCOME
TO
"NOON
WEDNESDAY,"
I'M MARISA
WOJCIK,
MULTIMEDIA
JOURNALIST WITH
PBS
WINCE.
TODAY
IS
JULY
7.
SCIENTISTS ARE
USING
GENOME
SEQUENCING TO
PLAN
FOR
PANDEMICS
AND
IDENTIFY
VARIANTS OF THE
SARS-CoV-2
LIKE
THE
MORE
CONTAGIOUS
DELTA
VARIANT.
JOINING
ME
TODAY
ARE
TWO
PROFESSORS AND
RESEARCHERS
OF
UW-MADISON, TOM
FRIEDRICH
AND DAVE
O'CONNOR. THANK YOU,
BOTH, VERY
MUCH
FOR
BEING
HERE.
>> THANK
YOU
FOR
HAVING US.
>> GOOD TO
BE
WITH
YOU.
>>
DAVID, I
WANT TO
START
WITH
YOU.
THE
VARIANT
OF
THE
SARS-CoV-2
KNOWN AS
DELTA
IS
NOW
THE
MOST
DOMINANT STRAIN IN
THE UNITED
STATES AS RECENTLY REPORTED
BY
THE
CENTERS
FOR
DISEASE
CONTROL.
WHAT DO
WE
KNOW
ABOUT
THE
DELTA
VARIANT?
>>
WELL,
W
E
KNOW
THAT THIS
DELTA
VARIANT IS
THE
DOMINANT
VARIANT
BECAUSE IT IS
MORE
CONTAGIOUS.
THAT
MEANS
IT
SPREADS
MORE
EASILY,
AND
SO
YOU
CAN
IMAGINE
THAT WITH
A
PREVIOUS VARIANT,
YOU MIGHT HAVE
NEEDED TO BE
IN
A
ROOM WITH
SOMEONE WHO
IS
INFECTED FOR
FIVE
MINUTES TO
BECOME
INFECTED,
BUT
NOW
ONLY
TWO AND A HALF
MINUTES
TO
BECOME
INFECTED SO WE
KNOW IT
IS
MORE
CONTAGIOUS. WE KNOW
THA
T PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
VACCINATED ARE
GOING TO
BE
PROTECTED
FROM SEVERE
DISEASE.
THE
REALLY GOOD NEWS
IS THAT
I
F
YOU
HAVE
GOTTEN
YOUR
VACCINE,
YOU ARE
NOT
GOING TO
BE
SICK WITH THE
DELTA
VIRUS.
HOWEVER,
YOU
MIGHT
STILL
GET
INFECTED AND
BE
AN
ASYMPTOMATIC
CARRIER
MEANING
YOU
COULD
POTENTIALLY INFECT THOSE AROUND
YOU WHO
ARE
UNVACCINATED.
THESE TWO
FEATURES,
THE
HIGH
CONTAGIOUSNESS AND THE
FACT
IT'S
SPREAD BY PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
VACCINATED
AND
ASYMPTOMATIC,
ALLOWED IT
TO
GET
A
FOOTHOLD
IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN
WISCONSIN SO
QUICKLY.
>>
AND,
TOM,
WHAT
DO
WE
KNOW
ABOUT WHO
SPECIFICALLY IS
MOSTLY
CONTRACTING THE
DELTA
VARIANT,
AND
HOW
SICK
ARE
THEY
GETTING?
>>
SO
THIS
IS
A
GOOD
QUESTION,
AND
AS
DAVE
INDICATED,
MOST OF
THE POME WHO
ARE
--
PEOPLE WHO
ARE
GETTING
SICK WITH
THE
DELTA
VARIANT, AND
INDEED
WITH
COVID
GENERALLY IN THE UNITED STATES
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT
VACCINATED. IT
IS
IMPORTANT
TO
REMEMBER
THAT PEOPLE, THERE ARE
OTHER
PEOPLE IN
THE
POPULATION
WHO
ARE
VULNERABLE, EITHER
BECAUSE THEY
ARE
NOT
VACCINATED
OR
BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, THEY
MAY
HAVE
WEAKENED
IMMUNE
SYSTEMS
BECAUSE
THE
Y
HAVE
CANCER OR THEY
ARE
BEING
TREATED
WITH
ANTIREJECTION
DRUGS
BECAUSE
THEY
ARE
TRANSPLANT
RECIPIENTS.
THOSE PEOPLE
ARE
ALSO
AT
RISK.
IT
IS
IMPORTANT FOR ALL
OF
US
TO
DO OUR
PARTS
TO
REDUCE
TRANSMISSION OF
THIS
VARIANT
AS
BEST
WE
CAN.
>>
AND
SO,
DAVID,
IF
YOU
ARE
VACCINATED, YOU SAID
YOU
CAN
STILL
CONTRACT
AND
TRANSMIT THE
DELTA VARIANT?
DOES
THAT
MEAN
WE
SHOULD
STILL
BE
WEARING
MASKS
WHEN
WE
ARE
OUT
IN PUBLIC?
HOW
SERIOUSLY
SHOULD WE
TAKE
IT?
>>
WELL, AS LONG
AS
THE
CASE
NUMBERS REMAIN
VERY,
VERY
LOW,
THE
LIKELIHOOD
YOU'RE
GOING
T
O
ENCOUNTER
SOMEONE
INFECTED
IS
GOING TO BE
VERY LOW.
I THINK
WHAT WE
HAVE
HERE
AT
LEAST
IN
DANE
COUNTY
WHERE WE
HAVE
A
VERY
HIGH
VACCINATION
RATE
AND
LOW NUMBER OF
CASES IS
OKAY
FOR
RIGHT
NOW.
WE
DO
NEED TO
BE
OPEN TO
THE
POSSIBILITY THAT
IF
CASE
NUMBERS
REBOUND AND
GO
UP
AGAIN,
THEN
WE
MIGHT NEED
TO
RETURN
TO
MORE
AGGRESSIVE
MASKING
AND
OTHER
RISK
MITIGATION
POLICIES IN
THE
COMING
WEEKS
AND
MONTHS.
AS THE
WEATHER
GETS
COLDER
AND
WE
SPEND
MORE
TIME
INSIDE, WE
ARE GOING
TO
NEED
TO
SEE
WHAT
AFFECT THAT HAS ON
THE
SPREAD OF
THE
VIRUS,
AND
WE'RE
GOING T
O
NEED TO
POTENTIALLY
CHANGE
THE
PUBLIC HEALTH
MEASURES
ACCORDINGLY.
I
THINK
IT'S
MAYBE
A
LITTLE
BIT
TOO
OPTIMISTIC TO
SAY
JUST
BECAUSE WE HAVE
A
HIGH
VACCINE
RATE THAT
MEANS
THE
PANDEMIC
IS OVER.
I
THINK
WHAT
WE
SHOULD
DO
IS
ENJOY THIS
MOMENT THAT W
E
ARE
IN
RIGHT
NOW
WHEN
CASE
NUMBERS
ARE
LOW.
PEOPLE WHO
ARE
NOT
YET
VACCINATED SHOULD
TAKE
THIS
MOMENT
TO
GET
VACCINATED
SO
THAT
IN SIX
WEEKS
OR
SO
THEY ARE
FULLY
VACCINATED AND
HAVE
THE
BEST
POSSIBLE
PROTECTION FROM THE
DELTA
VARIANT
AND
OTHER
TYPES OF
VIRUS
THAT
MIGHT
COME IN
THE
FUTURE.
WE
JUST
NEED
TO
BE
VERY
WATCHFUL.
I LIKEN
IT
TO
BEING
ON
A
BEACH
IN FLORIDA
RIGHT
BEFORE A HURRICANE. RIGHT
NOW,
THE
SUN
IS
OUT.
THE
WAVES
ARE
GREAT.
ENJOY YOUR
TIME ON
THE
SAND.
THERE MIGHT BE
A
STORM
WELL
OFF
TO
SEA
THAT
WE
NEED TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT IN THE
FUTURE.
>>
TOM,
DOES
THE
TYPE
OF
COVID-19 VACCINE THAT
YOU
RECEIVE
IMPACT
THE
EFFICACY
AGAINST THE
DELTA
VARIANT
OR
VARIANTS WE
HAVE
NOT
YET
SEEN
EMERGE? >>
SO
THE
SHORT
ANSWER TO
THAT
QUESTION IS
NO.
AS FAR AS
WE
CAN
TELL,
THE
TYPE
OF
VACCINE
DOES
NOT
REALLY
AFFECT
THE
ABILITY
OF
A
VACCINATED PERSON TO BE
PROTECTED
FROM
DELTA
OR
OTHER
VARIANTS WE
ALREADY
KNOW
ABOUT.
THERE ARE
TWO
IMPORTANT
ASTERISKS TO
THAT,
HOWEVER.
THE
FIRST
IS THAT THERE'S
DATA
COMING OUT OF
THE
U.K.
SUGGESTING THAT FOR
THE
TWO
DOSE
VACCINES, THE
FIEFS
PFIZER
AND
MODERNA
VACCINES,
AND
PROBABLY
ALSO
ASTRAZENECA,
BUT
NOT
SURE
ABOUT
THAT
ONE,
THAT
YOU
HAVE TO BE
FULLY
VACCINATED
TO
HAVE
PROTECTION AGAINST
THE
SEVERE
DISEASE OF
THE
DELTA
VARIANT
SO
THOSE
WITH
ONE
DOSE ARE
NOT
WELL-PROTECTED AGAINST
DELTA.
SIMILARLY,
WE
DO
NOT
KNOW
HOW
THIS
VIRUS
WILL
EVOLVE IN THE
FUTURE.
THERE
ARE
ALREADY
INDICATIONS
THAT THE
DELTA VARIANT
MAY
HAVE
NEW
MUTATIONS LIKE
THAT
GET
INCORPORATED INTO
THIS
DELTA
VARIANT.
YOU
KNOW,
THERE'S
OTHER
MUTATIONS WE KNOW
ABOUT
THAT
MAY
AFFECT THE
ABILITY
OF
OUR
IMMUNE
RESPONSE
TO
RECOGNIZE
THAT
VARIANT
THAT
THE
KIND
OF
STANDARD
DELTA
V
ARIANT
DOES
NOT
HAVE, AND
IT
MAY
ACQUIRE,
AND
SO
THAT
MAY
MAKE
THAT
SORT
OF
NEW
VARIANT
EVEN
LESS
RECOGNIZABLE
TO
OUR
IMMUNE
SYSTEMS,
AND, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE TO
BE
READY
FOR
THE
FUTURE EVOLUTION
OF
THAT
VIRUS SO IT
IS
HARD
TO
PREDICT
HOW
THE
VACCINES
WILL
WORK
AGAINST FUTURE
VARIANTS
THAT
HAVE NOT
COME
AROUND
YET.
I
WOULD
ADD
ONE
IMPORTANT
THING
TO
DAVE'S
ANSWER
JUST
NOW,
WHICH
IS
ALSO
THAT WE
HAVE
TO
REMEMBER
THAT
SCHOOL-AGED
CHILDREN UNDER
THE
AGE
OF
12
CANNOT
BE
VACCINATED
YET.
SO
WHEN HE
TALKS
ABOUT
HOW
WE
MAY
NEED
TO
PREPARE
FOR
A
FUTURE
WHERE THERE'S
MORE
TRANSMISSION,
WHEN
OUR
KIDS
GO
BACK
TO
SCHOOL,
THE
KIDS
ARE
NOT
VACCINATED
AND
WILL
NOT
BE
ABLE TO
BE
VACCINATED
YET,
W
E
MAY
SEE
A
CHANGE IN THE
PATTERNS
OF
COVID
TRANSMISSION, AND
THAT'S
SOMETHING WE
HAVE
TO
PAY
CLOSE
ATTENTION TO.
>>
AND,
DAVE,
AS
YOU
WERE
TALKING,
IN
WISCONSIN,
THE
DEPARTMENT
OF
HEALTH
SERVICES
BEGAN
REPORTING
LAST
MONTH,
CASE
CASES OF THE
DELTA
VARIANT,
AND
THE
MOST
RECENT
DATA WE
HAVE NOW
IS ABOUT
A
WEEK
OLD,
AND
AT
THAT
POINT
IT
SAID
71
CASES
STATEWIDE.
WITH
TESTING
GOING
DOWN
AND
MORE
PEOPLE
GETTING
VACCINATE
ED,
IS
IT
DIFFICULT
TO
DECIPHER
HOW
ACCURATE
THAT
71
CASE
COUNT MIGHT
BE,
IF
IT'S
HIGHLY
TRANSMISSIBLE
AND
PEOPLE
AREN'T
FINDING A
WAY
TO
HAVE
THAT
DETECTED. >>
SURE.
GREAT
QUESTION.
THE GOOD
NEWS
IS AT THIS
TIME
LAST YEAR
WE
HAD
MORE
VIRUS
AND
LESS
SEQUENCING.
SEQUENCING IS
READING
OUT
3
0
LETTERS
THAT
COMPRISE
THE
GENETIC SEQUENCE TO
DETERMINE
WHETHER A
VIRUS
LOOKS LIKE
A
2020
VIRUS,
A
MADISON,
MILWAUKEE,
GREEN
BAY
VIRUS,
WHETHER IT IS A
DELTA
VIRUS, OR
SOME
OTHER
VIRUS.
WE CAN
GET
THAT
B
Y
SEQUENCING
THE
VIRUS, AND
RIGHT
NOW,
WE
AND
OUR
PARTNERS
AT
STATE
LAB
HYGIENE
AND
MARSHVILLE
CLINIC
AND SEVERAL OTHERS
THROUGHOUT
THE
STATE
ARE
WORKING
HARD TO
TRY
TO
SEQUENCE
EVERY
VIRUS
THAT
WE
CAN
GET
SEQUENCING
FROM
STATEWIDE.
THAT'S
A
HUGE CHANGE FROM AT THIS TIME LAS
T YEAR
WHERE
IN
DANE
COUNTY
W
E
HAD
5%
TO
10% OF
THE
TEST
POSITIVE
CASES
SEQUENCED.
STATEWIDE, IT WAS
MUCH,
MUCH
LESS,
1%
OR
2%.
WE
HAVE
A
REALLY
GOOD
VISIBILITY
INTO THESE
DELTA
VIRUSES AMONG
PEOPLE WHO
ARE
BEING
TESTED, BUT
AS
YOU
POINT
OUT,
OUR
ABILITY
TO
PICK
UP
THESE
CASES
IS
ONLY
AS
GOOD
AS
OUR
ABILITY
TO
TEST,
AND
SINCE WE
HAVE
THIS
INDICATION
THAT PEOPLE WHO
ARE
VACCINATED
MIGHT
BECOME
INFECTED
BUT
NOT
DEVELOP
SYMPTOMS,
THERE'S
A
VERY
REAL
POSSIBILITY
THAT
WE'RE
GOING TO BE
MISSING A
LOT
OF
CASES, AND
THAT
THE
LAG
TIME
BETWEEN
WHEN
SOMEONE
PROVIDES A
SAMPLE AND
WHEN
A
SEQUENCE
GETS
GENERATED, AND
WHEN
THOSE
STATISTICS BECOME
AVAILABLE
THROUGH
THE
STATE, THAT
MEANS
THAT
WE'RE ALREADY
GOING TO
BE
A
COUPLE
WEEKS
BEHIND IN
THE
REPORTING.
I
WOULDN'T
PUT TOO
MUCH
FAITH IN
THE
SPECIFIC
NUMBER
OF
70.
WHAT
I
WOULD
SAY
IS
THAT I
THINK
A WEEK BEFORE
THAT IT WAS
35,
AND
NOW
IT'S
70,
AND
SO
WE
CAN
REASONABLY
ANTICIPATE
THAT
IT'S
GOING
TO
CONTINUE
GOING
UP,
AND
THIS
VIRUS
IS
GOING
TO
DISPLACE
THE
VIRUSES
THAT
WERE
CIRCULATING
PREVIOUSLY,
AND
SO
THAT
RISK
OF
INCREASED
CONTAGIOUSNESS FOR
PEOPLE
UNVACCINATED IS
GOING
TO
CONTINUE
TO
GROW
AND
AMPLIFY
AS
WE
MOVE
THROUGH
THE
SUMMER.
>>
NOW,
TOM,
THE
ROCKEFELLER
FOUNDATION IS
WORKING
TO
CREATE
AN
INTERNATIONAL
PANDEMIC
PREVENTION
INSTITUTE,
AND
THE
UW-MADISON
RECENTLY HAS BEEN
A
PARTNER
I
N
THAT
EFFORT.
CAN
YOU
TELL
US
ABOUT
THE
PLANS?
HOW
DO
WE
PREVENT
A
FUTURE
PANDEMIC GOING
FORWARD?
>>
SURE.
I
THINK
THAT
ONE OF
THE
MAIN
THINGS THAT
WE
LEARNED IN
THE
LAST
10
OR
15
YEARS
IS
THAT
DISEASES LIKE
COVID
WILL
CONTINUE
TO
EMERGE AND
THREATEN
GLOBAL
HEALTH.
THEY
MAY
THREATEN
HEALTH
LOCALLY
BEFORE
THEY
BECOME
GLOBAL
PANDEMICS.
WHAT
WE'D LIKE TO
DO
IS
BE
ABLE
TO
DETECT
EMERGENCE OF
A
NEW
DISEASE
LIKE
COVID, LOCALLY
WHERE IT IS
HAPPENING,
AND
THEN,
HOPEFULLY, STAMP
IT
OUT
BEFORE A
BECOMES
A
GLOBALLY
DISRUPTIVE
PANDEMIC LIKE THE
ONE
WE'RE
LIVING
THROUGH.
YOU
KNOW,
IN
RECENT
YEARS,
THERE'S
BEEN
OUTBREAK OF
ZIKA
VIRUS IN THE
AMERICAS
AND
2009
INFLUENZA
PANDEMIC, AND
WE
HAD,
YOU
KNOW,
LARGE
SCALE
OUTBREAK OF
EBOLA
IN
WEST
AFRICA
AND
SO
ON.
WHAT'S
TENDED
TO
HAPPEN IN THE
PAST
IS
THAT
THERE
IS
AN
INTERNATIONAL
RESPONSE TO
THE
OUTBREAKS THAT
KIND
OF
STARTS TO
RAMP
UP
AS
THE
OUTBREAK
BECOMES
SEVERE.
MAYBE FUNDS AND
SUPPLIES
BECOME
AVAILABLE AS
THE
OUTBREAK
IS
WANING, AND
THEN
SORT
OF
GOES
AWAY,
AND
THEN
WE
SORT
OF
TAKE
OUR
EYE
OFF
THE
BALL
SO
THERE'S
A
BOOM
AND
BUST
CYCLE.
THE
FUNDING AND
THINKING ABOUT
HOW TO
RESPOND
TO
PANDEMIC
AND
POTENTIALLY
PANDEMIC
DISEASES, AND
SO
WHAT
ROCKEFELLER
AND
OTHER
PARTNERS ARE
TRYING TO
DO
IS LAY
THE
FOUNDATIONS FOR
A
MORE
SUSTAINABLE
APPROACH
TO
DETECTING AND
HOPEFULLY
STOPPING
EMERGING
DISEASES
BEFORE
THEY
BECOME
PANDEMICS, AND
SO
INSTEAD
OF
FORGETTING
ABOUT
COVID
AFTER
IT
SEEMS
TO
GO
AWAY
IN
ANOTHER
YEAR OR
TWO,
HOPEFULLY
THAT'LL
HAPPEN, WE
WANT T
O
HAVE
A
SYSTEM
OF
LABORATORIES
AND
CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
THOSE
LABORATORIES
AND
PUBLIC
HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS ON
THE
GROUND
WHO
CAN
TAKE
THAT
KIND
OF
INFORMATION
ABOUT
VIRAL
GENE
SEQUENCING,
LABS
LIKE
DAVE'S
AND
MINE
CAN
GENERATE,
AND
THEN
USE
THAT INFORMATION TO
HELP
INFORM
A
PUBLIC
HEALTH
RESPONSE ON THE
GROUND.
SO
WHAT
THAT
MIGHT
LOOK LIKE
IS,
YOU
KNOW,
READING THESE
SEQUENCES AND
LEARNING,
OKAY,
THERE'S A
NEW
VIRUS
IN
THIS
LOCATION,
SEEING
DELTA
EMERGING
IN
OUR
BACKYARD, AND
SO
MAYBE
THAT
MEANS WE
HAVE
TO
LOOK
CAREFULLY AT
WHO
IS
GETTING
DELTA AND
WHAT
ARE
THE
DRIVERS
OF
THOSE
OUTBREAKS,
AND
SO
THAT
SEQUENCING
CAN
THEN
INFORM
A
BETTER
TAILORED
AND
TARGETED
PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSE.
WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO
WITH
THIS
SORT
OF
INTERNATIONAL
INSTITUTE
IS
DEFINE BEST
PRACTICES
SO
THAT
LABS
AND
PUBLIC
HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS
AND
CLINICIANS
CAN
ALL
WORK
TOGETHER
BETTER
TO
GET
A
BETTER
HANDLE
ON
COVID
AND
USE
THAT
AS
A
RESPONSE
TO WHATEVER
COMES NEXT
AS,
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE
WILL
PROBABLY BE SOMETHING.
>>
THAT
SOUNDS LIKE
A
HEAVY
LIFT,
DAVE,
A
S
YOU
ALREADY
DESCRIBED
YOUR --
YOU
DESCRIBED
TRYING
TO
SEQUENCE
EVERY
TEST OF
THE
VIRUS.
TAKING
A
BABY STEP
BACK,
CAN
YOU
GIVE
US
A
QUICK
SENSE
OF
WHAT
GENOME SEQUENCING
IS
AND
WHY
DOES THIS
KIND
OF
SURVEILLANCE
MATTER?
>>
SURE.
SO
GENOMIC
SURVEILLANCE
IS
REALLY
JUST
READING
THE
LETTERS IN THE
VIRUS
ES
TO
BASICALLY DETERMINE WHAT IT
LOOKS
LIKE,
AND
SO
YOU
MAY
HAVE
HEARD
OF
PEOPLE
GETTING
THEIR
GENOME
SEQUENCED.
IF
THEY
HAVE
A
RARE
DISEASE
OR
IF
THEY
HAVE
A
FAMILY
HISTORY
OF
DISEASE, OR
IF
THEY HAVE
CANCER,
THERE
YOU
READ
THE
BODIES
ON
GENOME, ABOUT
3
MILLION
LETTERS
LONG, AND
VIRUSES
ARE
A
LOT
SIMPLER.
THE
COVID
VIRUS'
GENOME
IS
ONLY
30,000 LETTERS
LONG,
AND
WE
JUST
READ THOSE
30,000 LETTERS
WITH
FANCY
INSTRUMENTS IN THE
LAB.
THE
TRICK
IS, OF
COURSE, TO
MAKE
THAT
INFORMATION
ACTIONABLE.
TOM
AND
I
SPENT
MUCH
OF
OUR
CAREERS
WORKING ON
HIV,
AND
ONE OF
THE
THINGS
THAT WE
HAVE
LEARNED FROM
WORKING
ON
THAT
IS
THAT
ALL
THE
TECHNOLOGY IN
THE
WORLD DOESN'T
MAKE
A
BIT
A
DIFFERENCE
IF
IT
C
AN'T
BE
BROUGHT TO
THE
COMMUNITIES THAT
NEED
IT
AND
IF
THE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO
USE
THAT
KNOWLEDGE
ISN'T
THERE.
REALLY,
WORKING
TO
BRING
THE
TECHNOLOGIES TO THE PEOPLE
WHO
WOULD BENEFIT
FROM
IT
IS
A
BIG
PART
OF
WHAT
THIS
INSTITUTE IS
ALL
ABOUT.
IT
IS
A
BIG
GAP
THAT
EXISTS
BETWEEN
LABS
THAT
GENERATE
REALLY
SOPHISTICATED
AND
FANCY
DATA
AND
THE
PEOPLE ON
THE
GROUND WHO WILL BE
ABLE
TO
USE
IT
MOST
EFFECTIVELY,
TO
TAILOR
PUBLIC
HEALTH
MESSAGES,
TO
IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO
ARE
AT
GREATEST
RISK,
TO
IDENTIFY IF
THERE'S
A
COMMUNITY
THAT DOES
HAVE
A
FAST
SPREADING
VARIANT
THAT WE
NEED TO
BE
WORRIED
ABOUT, AND,
YOU
KNOW,
REALLY
COMMUNICATING THAT
EFFECTIVELY.
THERE'S
HUGE
AMOUNTS OF
PLACES
WHERE
WE
CAN
WORK
WITH
PUBLIC
HEALTH
AND
PUBLIC
HEALTH CAN
WORK WITH
US,
AND
WE
CAN
JOIN
HANDS
MORE
TIGHTLY
TO
TRY
TO
USE
THIS
FANCY
TECHNOLOGY
TO
HELP
THE
GREATEST NUMBER
OF
PEOPLE
POSSIBLE.
>>
SO,
TOM,
WHY
DIDN'T
THIS
BRIDGE
BETWEEN
PUBLIC
HEALTH
AND
PEOPLE
RESEARCHING THESE
VIRUSES, WHY
WASN'T
THAT
BRIDGE
THERE
BEFORE, AND
ONCE
WE
BUILD
THAT
BRIDGE,
WILL
THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOCIAL
DISTANCING,
WEARING
MASKS,
THOSE
HAVE
BECOME
POLITICAL, WILL
IT
BE DIFFICULT
TO
GET
THE
MESSAGES
OUT
T
O
PEOPLE
TO
FOLLOW
THE
GUIDANCE? >>
WELL,
THOSE
ARE
BOTH
GOOD
QUESTIONS. I THINK THERE'S
A
COUPLE OF
REASONS
WHY THESE
BRIDGES
HAVE
NOT
EXISTED SO
MUCH
BEFORE.
%
THERE'S
BEEN
A
REVOLUTION
IN
% GENE
SEQUENCING
TECHNOLOGY
% THAT'S
OCCURRED IN
THE
LAST
10
% TO
15
YEARS
THAT
MADE
IT
% INCREASINGLY EASY AND
CHEAP
TO
% SEQUENCE VIRAL
GENOMES, AND
SO
% THE
SCALE
OF
GENOMIC
SEQUENCING
% FOR
THE
COVID
VIRUS
OCCURRING
% WORLDWIDE -- I MEAN, THERE'S
% HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS
OF
% INDIVIDUAL
VIRAL
SEQUENCES
NOW
% IN
GLOBAL
DATA
BASES
THAT
% PROVIDE THESE KIND
OF
GENETIC
% FINGERPRINTS THAT
LET
US
TRACK
% VERY
CLOSELY
HOW
CERTAIN
VIRUSES
% ARE
MOVING THROUGH
SPACE
AND
% TIME
AND
UNDERSTANDING THE
% DRIVERS WE'VE BEEN
TALKING
ABOUT
% OF
TRANSITION,
AND
SO THAT
IS
% ONLY
HAS
BECOME
POSSIBLE
THROUGH
% THIS
REVOLUTION
THAT'S MADE
THE
% APPROACH
FASTER,
CHEAPER,
AND
% EASIER.
% THAT
MEANS
MORE
LABS
IN
MORE
% PLACES CAN DO
IT,
AND
THAT'S
% JUST
SOMETHING
THAT
EVEN
% FIVE YEARS
AGO
OR
TEN
YEARS
AGO
% ABOUT WHEN
WITH THERE
WAS
THE
% 2009
INFLUENZA
PANDEMIC, IT
WAS
% JUST
NOT POSSIBLE AT
THE
SAME
% SCALE, AND
SO
BECAUSE IT HAS
NOT
% BEEN
THAT
POSSIBLE
BEFORE,
% PEOPLE
HAVE
NOT
REALLY
THOUGHT A
% LOT
ABOUT
HOW
TO
TAKE
THIS
VERY
% SOPHISTICATED INFORMATION, VERY
% DETAILED
INFORMATION, AND
MAKE
% IT
DIGESTIBLE,
ACCESSIBLE,
AND
% ACTIONABLE IN
THE
PUBLIC HEALTH
% SETTING.%WE HAVE
DATA
BASES ON
THE
PUBLIC
% HEALTH SIDE
THAT
ALLOW
US
TO
% TRACK, YOU
KNOW,
WHETHER IT
MAY
% BE
CASES
OF
A
CERTAIN
INFECTION,
% BUT
THOSE
DATA
BASES
WERE
NOT
% BUILT
WITH,
YOU
KNOW,
VIRAL
% SEQUENCE INFORMATION
IN
MIND,
% AND
SO IT
I
S
DIFFICULT
TO
GET
% THIS
INFORMATION IN
THERE,
AND,
% ALSO, IN
OUR
COUNTRY,
PUBLIC
% HEALTH IS
HIGHLY
DECENTRALIZED,% AND SO IT
IS
REALLY
OVERSEEN
BY
% STATE, COUNTY,
AND
LOCAL
HEALTH
% BOARDS
THAT
ALL
USE
DIFFERENT% INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
AND
HAVE
% DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF
STAFFING
AND
% BUDGETS THAT
ARE
JUST
NOT
REALLY
% EQUIPPED
TO
HANDLE THIS
KIND
OF
% INFORMATION, AND SO
PART
OF
THIS
% PUSH THAT
WE'VE
BEEN
TALKING
% ABOUT IS
JUST
TO
THINK
ABOUT
HOW
% TO
MOD
MODERNIZE
DATA
TRACKING
% NEEDED TO
BE
ABLE
TO
LINK
% INFORMATION THAT
IS
NOW
EASIER
% TO
GENERATE
BACK
TO
PUBLIC
% HEALTH, SO
THAT'S
WHY
THESE
% BRIDGES HAVE
NOT
BEEN
STRONGER% IN THE
PAST
.
%
I CAN'T
REMEMBER
THE
SECOND
HALF% OF
THE
QUESTION.
% I'M SORRY.
% >>
WILL
IT
BE
DIFFICULT
TO
GET
% PEOPLE
TO
FOLLOW
GUIDANCE
ONCE% WE
HAVE
THESE
NEW
BRIDGES
BUILT
% BECAUSE IT'S
BECOME
A
POLITICAL
% STAMP?
% >>
WELL, I
THINK
THAT THERE
ARE
% GOING TO BE
CHALLENGES, FOR
% SURE,
AND
,
CERTAINLY, ONE THING
% I
DID NOT
FULLY
A
NTICIPATE% COMING IN
TO
THIS
PANDEMIC
WAS
% THE
EXTENT
TO
WHICH
JUST
SORT
OF
% BASIC
PUBLIC
HEALTH
% RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE
WEARING
A
% MASK
WOULD BECOME
KIND
OF
FUSED
% WITH
POLITICS.
% IT
IS
DIFFICULT
TO
EXTRACT
% POLITICS FROM ANYTHING THAT
WE
% TALK
ABOUT
THESE
DAYS,
% UNFORTUNATELY,
AND
SO
THERE
MAY
% BE
MORE
BARRIERS
THAN
WE
% FORESAW.
% HOWEVER, I
THINK
THAT
% DECENTRALIZING
ACCESS TO
THE
% INFORMATION AND SORT
OF
MORE
% DEMOCRACY
THE
GENERATION OF
THE
% SEQUENCE INFORMATION AS IT
GETS
% EASIER TO
DO,
THEN, YOU
KNOW,
% LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS
CAN
% TAILOR
MESSAGING
TO
THEIR
LOCAL
% COMMUNITIES
HOPEFULLY
IN
WAYS
% THAT LOCAL
COMMUNITIES
WILL
% FIND, YOU
KNOW,
MORE
ENGAGING
% AND
EASIER
TO
UNDERSTAND
AND
% FOLLOW THAN
IF
IT
SEEMS TO
BE
% COMING
DOWN
FROM
ABOVE
FROM
SOME% PLACE FAR
AWAY.
% >>
THE
PANDEMIC
CERTAINLY
HAS
% ACCELERATED A LOT
OF
THINGS
I
N
% THEIR
PACE, AND I
WANT
TO
TOUCH
% ON,
DAVID,
YOU'RE
ANALYZING
% SAMPLES
OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AIR
AND% HOW
MUC
H
A
VIRUS
COULD
EXIST IN
% THE
AIR.
% THAT'S
WRAPPED
UP
IN
THIS
WORK% WITH
THE
INSTITUTE.
% CAN
YOU
DESCRIBE THAT
FOR
US?
% >>
SURE.
% SO
THIS ACTUALLY
BUILDS
ON
TOM'S
% ANSWER, YOU KNOW,
WHICH
IS
THAT
% AS
WE
G
O
THROUGH
THE
PANDEMIC,
% WE
REALIZE THAT
THERE
ARE
GOING% TO BE
PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
NOT
% INTERESTED
IN
BEING
TESTED.
% THEY
DON'T
WANT
TO
DEAL
WITH
% COVID, AND
YET
THAT
DOESN'T
MEAN
% THE
VIRUS
ISN'T
AROUND
SO WE
% HAVE
T
O
COME
UP
WITH
INNOVATIVE
% WAYS THAT
WE
CAN
LOOK FOR
THE
% VIRUS
AND
UNDERSTAND
IT,
EVEN
IN
% PLACES
WHERE
THERE MIGHT
BE
SOME
% RESISTANCE TO
GETTING
TESTED,
% AND
THERE MIGHT
BE
MISTRUST.
% ONE
WAY TO
DO
THAT
IS
TO
SURVEIL
% THE
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE
PEOPLE
% LIVE.
% ONE
WAY TO
DO
THAT
IS
BY
LOOKING
% AT
WASTE WATER.
% THERE'S BEEN A
LOT
O
F
WORK
DONE
%
AROUND THE
COUNTRY IN
THE
LAST
% YEAR
OR
SO,
LOOKING
AT HOW
MUCH
% VIRUS
IS
PRESENT IN
THE
WASTE
% WATER.
% HERE
IN
WISCONSIN,
OUR
STATE
LAB
% OF
HYGIENE
COLLECTS
AND
ANALYZES% WASTE WATER FROM
AROUND
THE
% STATE
EVERY
WEEK
TO
DETERMINE% HOW
MUCH
VIRAL
GENETIC
MATERIAL
% IS
FOUND
IN
IT,
AND
IT
CAN
BE
% USED AS
A
PREDICTER OF HOW
MUCH,
% YOU
KNOW, HOW MANY
CASES
WE
% MIGHT EXPECT
AT
SOME
POINT IN
% THE
FUTURE.
% THE
OTHER
THING
WE
CAN
DO
AND
% STARTING TO
DO
IS
DO
THE
SAME
% THING
BUT WITH
AIR.
% SO
IMAGINE
THAT
YOU WOULD
HAVE
% SAMPLE
ERS
IN
AIRPORTS, BUS
%
STATIONS, OR
MALLS.
% PLACES WHERE
PEOPLE
COME
% TOGETHER WHERE
YOU
COULD
% BASICALLY COLLECT
AND
CAPTURE
% THE
AIR,
COUNT HOW
MUCH
VIRUS
OR
% GENETIC MATERIAL IS IN
THE
AIR,
% AND
SEQUENCE
THAT
VIRUS
TO
% DETERMINE
WHICH
VIRAL
VARIANTS
% ARE
PRESENT,
AND, IN
FACT,
PART
% OF
THAT
ROCKEFELLER
INSTITUTE
WE
% WERE
REFERRING
TO
EARLIER
IS
% GOING
TO
FUND
PUTTING AIR
% SAMPLERS IN
HERE
IN
MADISON,
% MILWAUKEE,
AND
MARSHFIELD,
AND
% THEN
WITH
PARTNERS
IN
MINNESOTA,% AND
SO
MY
OFFICE
IS
A
AIR
% SAMPLER STORAGE FACILITY AT
THE
% MOMENT.
% ONE
SAMPLE
IS
HERE
BEHIND
ME
% LEFT SHOULDER.
% THEY
ARE
SIMPLE
DEVICES.
% THEY
LOOK
LIKE
SHARPER
IMAGE
AIR
% FILTERS.
% YOU
RUN
THEM IN
THE
BACKGROUND
% AND
COLLECT
A
FILTER
AFTER
10
TO
% 12
HOURS,
COLLECT WHAT'S
TRAPPED% IN THE
FILTER, AND
ANALYZE
IT.
% THIS IS
A
PERFECT
EXAMPLE
OF
% INNOVATION TO BE
TESTED
OUT
I
N
% UNIVERSITIES
WHERE WE
HAVE
THE
% LUXURY
OF
TIME
AND
FREEDOM
TO
% EXPLORE
CAN
FIRST
BE
PROTOTYPED
% IN
PLACES
LIKE
UW-MADISON, AND
% THEN IF
IT
WORKED, ONCE
THE
BUGS
% ARE
IRONED
OUT,
YOU
CAN
BRING
IT
% TO
PLACES
WHERE
IT COULD
BE
% REALLY
USEFUL
AND
GIVE
THIS
TO
% LOCAL
PUBLIC
HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS
% OR THE
SCHOOLS TO USE
IT
AS
AN
% ADDITIONAL
TOOL
TO
HELP,
YOU
% KNOW,
PROVIDE
AN
EXTRA
LAYER
OF
% PROTECTION AND
INFORMATION
.
% >>
NOW
THE
LAST
QUESTION
IS
FOR
% BOTH
OF
YOU.
% DAVID, I'LL
START
WITH
YOU.
% WHAT HAS BEEN A
BIG
LESSON
% LEARNED EITHER
THROUGH
YOUR
% RESEARCH OR
EVEN
YOUR
OWN
% PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE AS YOU
HAVE
% BEEN
NAVIGATING
THIS
PANDEMIC?
% >>
WELL,
I
CAME
OF
AGE
AS
A
% STUDENT IN
THE
EARLY
'90s, IN
% THE PEAK OF
THE
HIV
EPIDEMIC.
% AND
THE
HIV
EPIDEMIC HAS
BECOME
% THE
DEFINING
PROFESSIONAL
% CHALLENGE OF
MY
CAREER.
% I'VE BEEN
WORKING
WITH
TOM
AND
% OTHERS ON
THIS
FOR MORE
THAN
25
% YEARS
.
% ONE OF THE
THINGS I
REALIZED IN
% TALKING
TO
OTHER
PEOPLE,
OTHER
% YOUNG
PEOPLE, MY
SON
IS
12,
AND
% SO
I
INTERACT
WITH
OUR UNDERGRAD
% STUDENTS AND
KIDS
MY
SON'S
AGE
% IS
THAT
THIS
PANDEMIC
IS
GOING
% TO
PUT
THAT
SAME
SORT
OF
% DRAMATIC
LIFE-CHANGE
ING
ON
THEM
% AS
THE
HIV
EPIDEMIC
DID
FOR
ME
% WHEN I WAS
ABOUT THAT
AGE.
% WHAT THAT
DOES
IS
CREATE
% OPPORTUNITY THAT I
DON'T
THINK
% WE'VE HAD
BEFORE WHERE SOME OF
% THE
GREATEST
YOUNG
MINDS
TODAY,
% THE
PEOPLE WITH THE
GREATEST
% AMOUNT OF
AMBITION
AND
ENERGY
% AND TALENT
ARE
GOING TO BE
% THINKING
ABOUT
HEALTH,
SCIENCE,
% MEDICINE
IN
WAYS
THEY
NEVER
DID
% BEFORE.
% I
DON'T
THINK
IT'S OUT OF
SCHOOL
% TO
SAY
THAT
SYSTEMS
LIKE
THE
% ONES
ON
AMAZON
AND
MICROSOFT AND
% APPLE ARE
A
LOT
BETTER
THAN
THE
% SORT OF
SYSTEMS
THAT
PUBLIC
% HEALTH
HAS
TO
ATTRACT
THEIR
% INFORMATION,
AND SO IF WE GET% THAT KIND
OF
TALENT,
WE
CAN
% LEVERAGE THE
KIND
OF
TALENT IN
% THE
NEXT
GENERATION
OF
EMERGING
% LEADERS
ACROSS
ALL
KINDS
OF
% DIFFERENT
DISCIPLINES.
% I
THINK
W
E
COULD
REALLY
HAVE
A
% TRANSFORMATIVE
FUTURE
FOR
PUBLIC
% HEALTH AND
DISEASE
SURVEILLANCE
% AND FOR
MAKING
EVERYONE
% HEALTHIER,
AND I
THINK WE
HAVE
% THIS
MOMENT
OF
OPPORTUNITY
TO
DO
% THIS
RIGHT
NOW,
AND
SO,
FOR
ME,
% THE
GREAT
THING
IS
SEEING THAT
% PEOPLE NOT ONLY
HAVE
BEEN
% AFFECTED,
BUT
HOW
INTERESTED
AND
% EAGER THEY ARE
TO
HELP,
AND
SO I
%
THINK
IT'S
OUR
JOB
AT
THE
% UNIVERSITY AND
IN
OTHER
SCHOOLS
% TO
HARNESS
THAT
AND
REALLY
GIVE
% PEOPLE
WINDOWS INTO
HOW
THEIR
% UNIQUE
SKILLS,
INTERESTS,
AND
% APTITUDE CAN BE
USED
AND
% CONTRIBUTE TO
FIGHTING
OFF
THE
% NEXT
ONE
SO
THERE'S
NOT
A
% COVID-25
OR
INFLUENZA
PANDEMIC
% OF
2028.
% >>
TOM,
SAME QUESTION
TO
YOU.
% >>
WELL, I
THINK
BUILDING
ON
% DAVE'S ANSWER, YOU
KNOW,
WHEN
I
% REFLECT ON
THE
PANDEMIC,
IT IS
% OBVIOUSLY, YOU
KNOW,
PROFOUNDLY
% AFFECTED
ALMOST
EVERYONE IN THE
% WORLD, AND
SO,
YOU
KNOW,
THERE'S
% BEEN
HUGE
AMOUNTS
OF
JUST
% ANGUISH,
LOSS,
AND
IT'S
BEEN
% REALLY TRAGIC, BUT I THINK
IT'S
% ALSO
IMPORTANT
TO
RECOGNIZE
THAT
% THAT
BURDEN AND
TRAGEDY
IS
NOT
% REALLY
BEEN
VERY
EVENLY
% DISTRIBUTED, AND I
THINK
THAT
% THAT'S
ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY THAT
% WE'RE
SEEING,
THAT,
YOU
KNOW,
% THERE'S SO MANY
YOUNG
PEOPLE
% THAT
WE'VE
INTERACTED
WITH,
AS
% DAVE
SAID,
OR
OUR
OWN
MEDICAL
% AND
Ph.D.
STUDENTS
AND
% UNDERGRADUATES WHO MAY
NOT
WANT
% TO
PURSUE
A
CAREER
I
N
BENCH
% SCIENCE, LIKE WE
DO,
BY
CUTTING
% LIQUIDS
INTO
CLEAR
LIQUIDS, BUT
% THEY
WANT
TO
CONTRIBUTE
IN
SOME
% WAY
TO,
YOU
KNOW,
IMPROVING
% HEALTH
AND
IMPROVING
THE
% PREPAREDNESS
FOR
FUTURE
% PANDEMICS,
IMPROVING
HEALTH
% EQUITY,
AND, YOU
KNOW,
BOTH
% INTERNATIONALLY AND HERE
IN
OUR
% OWN
COMMUNITIES,
AND
SO
I
THINK
% THAT
WHAT'S
BEEN
REALLY
% INSPIRING THROUGH
THE
PANDEMIC
% IS
TO
SEE HOW MANY
SCIENTISTS
% AND
MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS
AND
% PUBLIC HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS JUST
% SORT
OF,
YOU
KNOW,
ROLLED
UP
% THEIR
SLEEVES AND
DECIDED
TO
% WORK
TOGETHER,
YOU
KNOW,
% WORRYING LATER
ABOUT
WHO
SHOULD
% GET
THE
MOST
CREDIT
FOR
WHAT,
% BUT JUST
TRYING
T
O
HELP
ON% WHATEVER SCALE
THEY
COULD,
USING% WHATEVER
SKILLS
THEY
HAD, AND
I
% HOPE
THAT
WE
CAN
KEEP
THI
S
% SPIRIT
ALIVE,
AND, YOU
KNOW,
USE
% THE
SORT
OF
GALVANIZED
ATTITUDES
%
WE'VE HAD
TO
TRY
TO
HELP
OUR
% FELLOW
CITIZENS
AND
PROTECT
OUR
% LOCAL
AND
GLOBAL
HEALTH
TO
BUILD
% BRIDGES THAT WERE
NOT
THERE
% BEFORE,
TO,
YOU
KNOW, GO
OUT
IN
% COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE
BEEN
% UNDERSERVED AND
MAKE SURE
THAT,
% YOU
KNOW,
THEY
HAVE
ACCESS
TO
% BASIC
PUBLIC
HEALTH NEEDS IN
% ADDITION
TO
FANCY
GENOME
% SEQUENCING FOR
PATHOGENS.
% I
THINK
THERE'S
A
TREMENDOUS
% OPPORTUNITY
HERE
TO
RECOGNIZE
% THESE
INEQUITIES
AND
HELP
HEALTH
% OUTCOMES
AND
JUS
T
GENOMIC
% SEQUENCING IS JUST A PART
O
F
% THIS.
% >>
WELL, I
WANT
TO THANK
YOU
% BOTH SO MUCH FOR
JOINING
US, TOM
% FRIEDRICH
AND DAVE
O'CONNOR,
% VIROLOGY
PROFESSORS
AND
% RESEARCHERS
AT
UW-MADISON, THANK
% YOU,
BOTH, VERY
MUCH.
% >> THANK
YOU.
% >>
THANK
YOU.
% >>
FOR
MORE
FROM "HERE &
NOW"
% AND PBS
WISCONSIN, VISIT
% PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS, AND THANK%
YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING
U
S
ON
% "NOON WEDNESDAY."