Journal Article

Surge of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections linked to single introduction of a virus strain in Myanmar, 2020

Thu, Hlaing Myat, Thwe, Wai Myat, Yee, Khin Than, Aung, Wah Wah, Myat, Theingi Win, Htun, Zaw Than, Nyunt, Myat Htut, Kyaw, Aung Kyaw, Aye, Lynn Pa Pa, Aye, Thin Thin, Thu, Pyae Phyo, Ko, Yamin Ko, Htoo, Thitsar Htet Htet, Aung, Kham Mo, Htun, Yin Min, Aye, Kay Thi, Lin, Htin, Win, Su Mon, Hlaing, Myat Su, Latt, Aung Zaw, Azili, Hnin, Zaw, Ni Ni, Minn, Wai Yan, Han, Soe Soe, Zaw, Khaing Mar, Ei, Phyu Win, Hein, Kyaw Thu, Win, Aye Aye, Win, Min Min, San, Lai Lai, Kyaw, Yi Yi, Soe, Hnin Ohnmar, Oo, Nan Aye Thida, Htun, Khin Lapyae, Mon, Nan Cho Nwe

2021

Overview

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a major health concern globally. Genomic epidemiology is an important tool to assess the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several mutations have been reported by genome analysis of the SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we investigated the mutational and phylogenetic analysis of 30 whole-genome sequences for the virus's genomic characteristics in the specimens collected in the early phase of the pandemic (March–June, 2020) and the sudden surge of local transmission (August–September, 2020). The four samples in the early phase of infection were B.6 lineage and located within a clade of the samples collected at the same time in Singapore and Malaysia, while five returnees by rescue flights showed the lineage B. 1.36.1 (three from India), B.1.1 (one from India) and B.1.80 (one from China). However, there was no evidence of local spread from these returnees. Further, all 19 whole-genome sequences collected in the sudden surge of local transmission showed lineage B.1.36. The surge of the second wave on SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to the single-introduction of a variant (B.1.36) that may result from the strict restriction of international travel and containment efforts. These genomic data provides the useful information to disease control and prevention strategy.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 631/208 / 631/326 / 631/337 / 692/4017 / 692/699 / Coronaviridae / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - diagnosis / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - virology / Disease control / Disease transmission / Epidemiology / Genome, Viral / Genomes / Genomics / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Infections / multidisciplinary / Mutation / Myanmar - epidemiology / Pandemics / Phylogeny / SARS-CoV-2 - genetics / SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Whole Genome Sequencing