CDC Expands Traveler Testing Program to Miami and Chicago Airports

The program aims to detect early signs of infectious diseases among international travelers.

Nose-swabbing for COVID variants and other contagious viruses begins at Miami International Airport as part of the CDC's traveler-based genomic surveillance program.
The program, which also includes major airports like Chicago O'Hare, aims to track new and emerging infectious diseases by testing international travelers.
Participation in the nose-swabbing is voluntary, anonymous, and free, with participants receiving a free COVID at-home test kit.
The CDC's program has already helped detect multiple Omicron variants up to 6 weeks before they were reported elsewhere in the U.S.
Since its launch in 2021, the program has collected samples from over 475,000 travelers from more than 135 countries.