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Genomic Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Guangdong Province, China.

Authors :
Lu, Jing
du Plessis, Louis
Liu, Zhe
Hill, Verity
Kang, Min
Lin, Huifang
Sun, Jiufeng
François, Sarah
Kraemer, Moritz U.G.
Faria, Nuno R.
McCrone, John T.
Peng, Jinju
Xiong, Qianling
Yuan, Runyu
Zeng, Lilian
Zhou, Pingping
Liang, Chumin
Yi, Lina
Liu, Jun
Xiao, Jianpeng
Source :
Cell. May2020, Vol. 181 Issue 5, p997-997. 1p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection and was first reported in central China in December 2019. Extensive molecular surveillance in Guangdong, China's most populous province, during early 2020 resulted in 1,388 reported RNA-positive cases from 1.6 million tests. In order to understand the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in China, we generated 53 genomes from infected individuals in Guangdong using a combination of metagenomic sequencing and tiling amplicon approaches. Combined epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses indicate multiple independent introductions to Guangdong, although phylogenetic clustering is uncertain because of low virus genetic variation early in the pandemic. Our results illustrate how the timing, size, and duration of putative local transmission chains were constrained by national travel restrictions and by the province's large-scale intensive surveillance and intervention measures. Despite these successes, COVID-19 surveillance in Guangdong is still required, because the number of cases imported from other countries has increased. • 1.6 million tests identified 1,388 SARS-CoV-2 infections in Guangdong by 19 March • Virus genomes can be recovered using a variety of sequencing approaches • Analyses reveal multiple viral importations with limited local transmission • Effective control measures helped reduce and eliminate chains of viral transmission Genomic and epidemiological analyses provide insights into how COVID-19 was contained in China's most populous province using a combination of surveillance and travel restriction measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00928674
Volume :
181
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Cell
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
143432654
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.023