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SARS-CoV-2 chronological genomic evolution and epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as affected by vaccination, conflict and socioeconomical disparities: a population-based cohort study.
- Source :
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BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2022 Sep 08; Vol. 12 (9), pp. e060775. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 08. - Publication Year :
- 2022
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Abstract
- Objective: To describe the chronological genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on public health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.<br />Methods: This study analysed all available SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences, metadata and rates of COVID-19 infection from the MENA region retrieved from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database from January 2020 to August 2021. Inferential and ‎descriptive statistics were conducted to describe the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.<br />Results: Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the MENA region indicated that the variants in January 2020 predominately belonged to the G, GR, GH or O clades and that the most common variant of concern was Alpha. By August 2021, however, the GK clade dominated (57.4% of all sequenced genomes), followed by the G clade (18.7%) and the GR clade (11.6%). In August, the most commonly sequenced variants of concern were Delta in the Middle East region (91%); Alpha (44.3%) followed by Delta (29.7%) and Beta (25.3%) in the North Africa region; and Alpha (88.9%), followed by Delta (10%) in the fragile and conflict-affected regions of MENA. The mean proportion of the variants of concern among the total sequenced samples differed significantly by country (F=1.93, P=0.0112) but not by major MENA region (F=0.14, P=0.27) or by vaccination coverage (F=1.84, P=0.176).<br />Conclusion: This analysis of the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 provides an essential description the virus evolution and its impact on public health safety in the MENA region. As of August 2021, the Delta variant showed a genomic advantage in the MENA region. The MENA region includes several fragile and conflict-affected countries with extremely low levels of vaccination coverage and little genomic surveillance, which may soon exacerbate the existing health crisis within those countries and globally.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2044-6055
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMJ open
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36691215
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060775