1. First confirmation of importation and transmission in Spain of the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant
- Author
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Elena Rodriguez Baena, M Dolores Folgueira, Irene Muñoz Gallego, María Ordobás Gavín, Arturo Fraile Torres, Esther Viedma, Isabel Fradejas-Villajos, M Angeles Meléndez, Pilar Catalán, Juan E. Losa-Garcia, Cristina Andrés Zayas, Darío García de Viedma, Carmen Del Arco, Daniel López-Wolf, Sergio Buenestado-Serrano, Raúl Recio, Carolina Campelo-Gutierrez, Víctor Manuel de la Cueva, Araceli Arce Arnáez, Andres Von Wermitz, Laura Cardeñoso, Sara González Bodi, Patricia Muñoz, Higinio Iglesias-Franco, Jennifer Villa, M José Goyanes, Rafael Delgado, Laura Pérez-Lago, and Pedro J Sola Campoy
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,Lineage (genetic) ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,030106 microbiology ,B.1.1.7, Importación ,Biology ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,law ,Transmission ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,B.1.1.7 ,Gene ,Whole genome sequencing ,Genetics ,Transmisión ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,New variant ,Importation ,Hospitalization ,Transmission (mechanics) ,Spain ,Original Article ,WGS - 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.
- Published
- 2021