AI-Assisted Bacterial Outbreak Detection via Genome Analysis

This system analyses bacterial genome sequences to build phylogenetic trees — visual maps of genetic relatedness among bacterial isolates — to help public health scientists determine whether cases share a common source and may constitute an outbreak. It is used by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene laboratory staff 2–3 times per week. No identifying information about individual patients is collected or disclosed; inputs are laboratory sequencing data about bacteria, not people.