Real-time WGS monitoring identifies L. monocytogenes outbreaks in The Netherlands and contributes to a rapid detection of the source

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is increasingly used by food regulatory agencies and public health institutes. It is a powerful tool to identify the source of a foodborne outbreak. Real-time WGS analysis helps to act fast during a foodborne outbreak, and with that the impact of an outbreak can be significantly decreased. In The Netherlands real-time WGS analysis is performed for L. monocytogenes originating from humans and from the food chain, and WGS data is shared between the food regulatory agencies (WFSR and NVWA) and the public health institute (RIVM). Consequently, by molecular typing and... Mehr ...