U.S. CDC Supports Moldova’s First Use of WGS in Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation
The country of Moldova, with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, has marked its first use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to successfully solve a foodborne illness outbreak.
During a 2025 Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 140 people, Moldova's National Agency of Public Health (NAPH) and CDC-trained fellows collected samples from patients, conducted interviews, and applied advanced laboratory science to identify links among cases. With CDC support, Moldova's national public health reference laboratory used WGS for the first time during an active foodborne illness outbreak.
This approach enabled investigators to focus their response on potential sources of contamination, helping health officials act faster and preventing additional illnesses.
Additionally, CDC partnered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support Moldovan experts through joint training and information-sharing. The collaboration reinforced the utility of proven food safety practices used in the U.S. and demonstrated how genomic tools can guide faster, more effective foodborne illness response.
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