Phylogenomics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Emergency Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness.
J Infect Dis
; 226(2): 217-224, 2022 08 24.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1758748
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Residents and staff of emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at high risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The importance of shelter-related transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in this population remains unclear. It is also unknown whether there is significant spread of shelter-related viruses into surrounding communities.METHODS:
We analyzed genome sequence data for 28 SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens collected from 8 shelters in King County, Washington between March and October, 2020.RESULTS:
We identified at least 12 separate SARS-CoV-2 introduction events into these 8 shelters and estimated that 57% (16 of 28) of the examined cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were the result of intrashelter transmission. However, we identified just a few SARS-CoV-2 specimens from Washington that were possible descendants of shelter viruses.CONCLUSIONS:
Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 spread in shelters is common, but we did not observe evidence of widespread transmission of shelter-related viruses into the general population.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ill-Housed Persons
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Infect Dis
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Infdis
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS