SPREAD: Spatiotemporal Pathogen Relationships and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard.

In the scope of public health, the rapid identification and control of infectious disease outbreaks are a paramount concern. Traditional surveillance methods often face challenges in effectively combining genetic, geographical, and temporal data, which is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of disease transmission dynamics. Addressing this critical need, the Spatiotemporal Phylogenomic Research and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard (SPREAD) emerges as an innovative standalone web-based application. SPREAD integrates several modules for detailed genomic relationships, pinpointing genetically close pathogens, and spatial mapping, providing in-depth views of how diseases spread across populations and territories, with significant advantage to manage both bacteria and viruses based on allele and variant calling, respectively. Designed for broad accessibility, SPREAD operates seamlessly within web browsers, eliminating the need for sophisticated IT infrastructure and facilitating its use across various public health contexts. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can effortlessly navigate complex datasets, facilitating widespread access to advanced surveillance capabilities. Through its initial deployments, SPREAD has proven instrumental in quickly identifying transmission clusters, significantly aiding in the formulation of prompt and targeted public health responses. Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology with a focus on user-centered design, SPREAD offers a promising solution that highlights the potential of digital health innovations.