One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population's genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.

authors

publication date

  • November 17, 2021

Research

keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC8637114

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85120706280

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1056/NEJMoa2001017

PubMed ID

  • 34869069

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 11