First sequenced cases of Omicron BA.2 sublineage in Ecuador.

Authors :: Andrade-Molina DA
Morey-León GA
Muñoz-Mawyin KE
Cruz-Fatuly FF
Fernández-Cadena JC
Cárdenas P
Source :: Virus research [Virus Res] 2023 Sep; Vol. 334, pp. 199169. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jul 04.
Publication Year :: 2023
Abstract: The largest wave of infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus in Ecuador was observed in mid-December 2021 and early January 2022, driven by B.1.1.529/BA (Omicron) variant. During the second half of March, an increase in the number of daily cases was observed and coincided with the emergence of the BA.2 variant, which we describe in the present study. The first sequenced five cases of SARS-CoV-2 21L/BA.2 in Ecuador were identified using variant specific genotyping by qPCR and confirmed by whole genome sequencing (WGS). The first sequenced Ecuadorian BA.2 isolate was obtained from a person with international travel history who became symptomatic 3 days after travelling, whereas in the other cases no travel history was recorded.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.<br /> (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)