The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Abstract
Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent.
Description
Keywords
Covid-19, Public health, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Africa
Citation
Tegally, H. et al. (2022). The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance. Science (New York, N.Y.), 378(6615), eabq5358. 10.1126/science.abq5358