Senjuti Saha: Absolutely. Genomic surveillance is extremely important to combat future pandemics. We believe the next pandemic may once again emerge from a respiratory virus. During the Covid pandemic, the world managed to identify the virus as SARS-CoV-2 because scientists could rapidly perform genome sequencing.
If Bangladesh can regularly collect and sequence samples from hospitals and communities, we will already be able to understand which viruses are spreading, which outbreaks are increasing, and what level of risk they may pose.
To achieve this we first need a strong network. We need to connect microbiology laboratories, physicians, and reporting systems. In the United Kingdom, whenever a laboratory identifies typhoid bacteria, it immediately sends the sample to central genomics laboratories for sequencing. We also need a similar system.
We conducted one of the first genome sequencing studies on Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium responsible for typhoid, here in Bangladesh. Through this research, we were able to show policymakers how these organisms are becoming antibiotic-resistant, what types of mutations are occurring, and what risks may emerge in the future.
Many typhoid patients in Bangladesh recover even after taking oral antibiotics. However, if there comes a time when these antibiotics do not work, hospitals will have to admit all patients and administer injections. That situation will create a serious crisis. Through genome sequencing, we are already identifying those risks.
To be honest, no one believed that we could do this from Bangladesh. Many foreign laboratories and colleagues asked us to send samples abroad, saying that they could do the work at a lower cost. But we decided not to send the samples out of the country. We decided to work here in Bangladesh. The costs would be higher and the challenges would be greater, but we wanted to build our capacity.
Today this identity is not just mine. This is from Bangladesh. This is from our organization. There was a time when no one believed in us, but now Bangladesh has shown the world that we too are capable.