1. First confirmation of importation and transmission in Spain of the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant.
- Author
-
Buenestado-Serrano S, Recio R, Sola Campoy PJ, Catalán P, Folgueira MD, Villa J, Muñoz Gallego I, de la Cueva VM, Meléndez MA, Andrés Zayas C, Losa-García JE, Goyanes MJ, Fraile Torres A, Von Wermitz A, Fradejas-Villajos I, Del Arco C, Campelo-Gutiérrez C, González Bodi S, López-Wolf D, Iglesias-Franco H, Pérez-Lago L, Arce Arnaez A, Rodriguez Baena E, Ordobas Gavin M, Muñoz P, Delgado R, Cardeñoso L, Viedma E, and García de Viedma D
- Subjects
- Humans, Spain epidemiology, Hospitalization, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Introduction: A newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, VOC202012/01 originating lineage B.1.1.7, recently emerged in the United Kingdom. The rapid spread in the UK of this new variant has caused other countries to be vigilant., Material and Methods: We based our initial screening of B.1.1.7 on the dropout of the S gene signal in the TaqPath assay, caused by the 69/70 deletion. Subsequently, we confirmed the B.1.1.7 candidates by whole genome sequencing., Results: We describe the first three imported cases of this variant from London to Madrid, subsequent post-arrival household transmission to three relatives, and the two first cases without epidemiological links to UK. One case required hospitalization. In all cases, drop-out of gene S was correctly associated to the B.1.1.7 variant, as all the corresponding sequences carried the 17 lineage-marker mutations., Conclusion: The first identifications of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant in Spain indicate the role of independent introductions from the UK coexisting with post-arrival transmission in the community, since the early steps of this new variant in our country., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF