Early epidemiological signatures of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants: establishment of B.1.617.2 in England

作者：Robert Challen, Louise Dyson, Christopher E. Overton, Laura M. Guzman-Rincon, Edward M. Hill, Helena B. Stage, Ellen Brooks‐Pollock, Lorenzo Pellis, Francesca Scarabel, David J. Pascall, Paula Blomquist, Michael J. Tildesley, Daniel Williamson, Stefan Siegert, Xiaoyu Xiong, Ben Youngman, Juniper, Jonathan M. Read, Julia R. Gog, Matt J. Keeling, León Danon · 发表于：medRxiv · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1101/2021.06.05.21258365 · 被引用次数：82 · 研究领域：SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research、Animal Virus Infections Studies、Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology

Abstract The rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants with new phenotypic properties is a critical challenge to the control of the ongoing pandemic. B.1.1.7 was monitored in the UK through routine testing and S-gene target failures (SGTF), comprising over 90% of cases by March 2021. Now, the reverse is occurring: SGTF cases are being replaced by an S-gene positive variant, which we associate with B.1.617.2. Evidence from the characteristics of S-gene positive cases demonstrates that, following importation, B.1.617.2 is transmitted locally, growing at a rate higher than B.1.1.7 and a doubling time between 5-14 days. S-gene positive cases should be prioritised for sequencing and aggressive control in any countries in which this variant is newly detected. One-Sentence Summary The B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is replacing B.1.1.7 and emerging as the dominant variant in England, evidenced by sustained local transmission.