ABSTRACT
We reconstructed the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic caused by Omicron variant in Puerto Rico by sampling genomes collected during October 2021-May 2022. Our study revealed that Omicron BA.1 emerged and replaced Delta as the predominant variant in December 2021. Increased transmission rates and a dynamic landscape of Omicron sublineage infections followed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Epidemics , Humans , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , COVID-19/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Background: Puerto Rico has experienced the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was first detected on the island in March of 2020, it spread rapidly though the island's population and became a critical threat to public health. Methods: We conducted a genomic surveillance study through a partnership with health agencies and academic institutions to understand the emergence and molecular epidemiology of the virus on the island. We sampled COVID-19 cases monthly over 19 months and sequenced a total of 753 SARS-CoV-2 genomes between March 2020 and September 2021 to reconstruct the local epidemic in a regional context using phylogenetic inference. Results: Our analyses reveal that multiple importation events propelled the emergence and spread of the virus throughout the study period, including the introduction and spread of most SARS-CoV-2 variants detected world-wide. Lineage turnover cycles through various phases of the local epidemic were observed, where the predominant lineage was replaced by the next competing lineage or variant after ~4 months of circulation locally. We also identified the emergence of lineage B.1.588, an autochthonous lineage that predominated in Puerto Rico from September to December 2020 and subsequently spread to the United States. Conclusions: The results of this collaborative approach highlight the importance of timely collection and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data to inform public health responses.
ABSTRACT
Background Puerto Rico has experienced the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was first detected on the island in March of 2020, it spread rapidly though the island’s population and became a critical threat to public health. Methods We conducted a genomic surveillance study through a partnership with health agencies and academic institutions to understand the emergence and molecular epidemiology of the virus on the island. We sampled COVID-19 cases monthly over 19 months and sequenced a total of 753 SARS-CoV-2 genomes between March 2020 and September 2021 to reconstruct the local epidemic in a regional context using phylogenetic inference. Results Our analyses reveal that multiple importation events propelled the emergence and spread of the virus throughout the study period, including the introduction and spread of most SARS-CoV-2 variants detected world-wide. Lineage turnover cycles through various phases of the local epidemic were observed, where the predominant lineage was replaced by the next competing lineage or variant after ~4 months of circulation locally. We also identified the emergence of lineage B.1.588, an autochthonous lineage that predominated in Puerto Rico from September to December 2020 and subsequently spread to the United States. Conclusions The results of this collaborative approach highlight the importance of timely collection and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data to inform public health responses. Plain language summary The COVID-19 pandemic reached Puerto Rico in March 2020. To understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Puerto Rico, we formed a partnership with universities and local government to study the genetic sequence of viruses sampled from infected people between March 2020 and September 2021. Our results show that the local epidemic was initiated and sustained by frequent importation of a wide diversity of SARS-CoV-2 lineages and variants, some of which circulated for some time in the island. We also detected a lineage of SARS-CoV-2, named B.1.588, that was first detected in Puerto Rico and subsequently spread to the United States. This study highlights the importance of the study of viral genetic data to inform public health responses. Santiago et al. sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled in Puerto Rico between March 2020 and September 2021. Phylogenetic analyses found multiple importations that increased infections and that variant turnover dynamics were similar to those seen in the USA.