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Introduction and expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and reinfections in Qatar: A nationally representative cohort study.
Abu-Raddad, Laith J; Chemaitelly, Hiam; Ayoub, Houssein H; Coyle, Peter; Malek, Joel A; Ahmed, Ayeda A; Mohamoud, Yasmin A; Younuskunju, Shameem; Tang, Patrick; Al Kanaani, Zaina; Al Kuwari, Einas; Butt, Adeel A; Jeremijenko, Andrew; Kaleeckal, Anvar Hassan; Latif, Ali Nizar; Shaik, Riyazuddin Mohammad; Abdul Rahim, Hanan F; Nasrallah, Gheyath K; Yassine, Hadi M; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Al Romaihi, Hamad Eid; Al-Thani, Mohamed H; Al Khal, Abdullatif; Bertollini, Roberto.
  • Abu-Raddad LJ; Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Chemaitelly H; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Ayoub HH; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America.
  • Coyle P; Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Malek JA; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Ahmed AA; Mathematics Program, Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Mohamoud YA; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Younuskunju S; Biomedical Research Center, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Tang P; Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queens University, Belfast, United Kingdom.
  • Al Kanaani Z; Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Al Kuwari E; Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Butt AA; Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Jeremijenko A; Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Kaleeckal AH; Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar.
  • Latif AN; Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
  • Shaik RM; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Abdul Rahim HF; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Nasrallah GK; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America.
  • Yassine HM; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Al Kuwari MG; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Al Romaihi HE; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Al-Thani MH; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Al Khal A; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Bertollini R; College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
PLoS Med ; 18(12): e1003879, 2021 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1573611
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (or Alpha) variant is insufficiently understood. This study's objective was to describe the introduction and expansion of this variant in Qatar and to estimate the efficacy of natural infection against reinfection with this variant. METHODS AND

FINDINGS:

Reinfections with the B.1.1.7 variant and variants of unknown status were investigated in a national cohort of 158,608 individuals with prior PCR-confirmed infections and a national cohort of 42,848 antibody-positive individuals. Infections with B.1.1.7 and variants of unknown status were also investigated in a national comparator cohort of 132,701 antibody-negative individuals. B.1.1.7 was first identified in Qatar on 25 December 2020. Sudden, large B.1.1.7 epidemic expansion was observed starting on 18 January 2021, triggering the onset of epidemic's second wave, 7 months after the first wave. B.1.1.7 was about 60% more infectious than the original (wild-type) circulating variants. Among persons with a prior PCR-confirmed infection, the efficacy of natural infection against reinfection was estimated to be 97.5% (95% CI 95.7% to 98.6%) for B.1.1.7 and 92.2% (95% CI 90.6% to 93.5%) for variants of unknown status. Among antibody-positive persons, the efficacy of natural infection against reinfection was estimated to be 97.0% (95% CI 92.5% to 98.7%) for B.1.1.7 and 94.2% (95% CI 91.8% to 96.0%) for variants of unknown status. A main limitation of this study is assessment of reinfections based on documented PCR-confirmed reinfections, but other reinfections could have occurred and gone undocumented.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, we observed that introduction of B.1.1.7 into a naïve population can create a major epidemic wave, but natural immunity in those previously infected was strongly associated with limited incidence of reinfection by B.1.1.7 or other variants.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Reinfection / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Variants Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS Med Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pmed.1003879

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Reinfection / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Variants Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS Med Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pmed.1003879