A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa

Wilkinson, E. et al. (2021) A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa. Science, 374(6566), pp. 423-431. (doi: 10.1126/science.abj4336)

Abstract

The progression of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Africa has so far been heterogeneous and the full impact is not yet well understood. Here, we describe the genomic epidemiology using a dataset of 8746 genomes from 33 African countries and two overseas territories. We show that the epidemics in most countries were initiated by importations predominantly from Europe, which diminished following the early introduction of international travel restrictions. As the pandemic progressed, ongoing transmission in many countries and increasing mobility led to the emergence and spread within the continent of many variants of concern and interest, such as B.1.351, B.1.525, A.23.1 and C.1.1. Although distorted by low sampling numbers and blind spots, the findings highlight that Africa must not be left behind in the global pandemic response, otherwise it could become a source for new variants.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotten, Professor Matthew

Creator Roles

Cotten, M.: Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Wilkinson, E., Giovanetti, M., Tegally, H., San, J. E., Lessells, R., Cuadros, D., Martin, D. P., Rasmussen, D. A., Zekri, A.-R. N., Sangare, A. K., Ouedraogo, A.-S., Sesay, A. K., Priscilla, A., Kemi, A.-S., Olubusuyi, A. M., Oluwapelumi, A. O. O., Hammami, A.¨n., Amuri, A. A., Sayed, A., Ouma, A. E. O., Elargoubi, A., Anthony, A. N., Victoria, A. F., Kazeem, A., George, A., Trotter, A. J., Yahaya, A. A., Keita, A. K., Diallo, A., Kone, A., Souissi, A., Chtourou, A., Gutierrez, A. V., Page, A. J., Vinze, A., Iranzadeh, A., Lambisia, A., Ismail, A., Rosemary, A., Sylverken, A., Femi, A., Ibrahimi, A., Marycelin, B., Oderinde, B. S., Bolajoko, B., Dhaala, B., Herring, B. L., Njanpop-Lafourcade, B.-M., Kleinhans, B., McInnis, B., Tegomoh, B., Brook, C., Pratt, C. B., Scheepers, C., Akoua-Koffi, C. G., Agoti, C. N., Peyrefitte, C., Daubenberger, C., Morang’a, C. M., Nokes, D. J., Amoako, D. G., Bugembe, D. L., Park, D., Baker, D., Doolabh, D., Ssemwanga, D., Tshiabuila, D., Bassirou, D., Amuzu, D. S. Y., Goedhals, D., Omuoyo, D. O., Maruapula, D., Foster-Nyarko, E., Lusamaki, E. K., Simulundu, E., Ong’era, E. M., Ngabana, E. N., Shumba, E., Fahime, E. E., Lokilo, E., Mukantwari, E., Philomena, E., Belarbi, E., Simon-Loriere, E., Anoh, E.© A., Leendertz, F., Ajili, F., Enoch, F. O., Wasfi, F., Abdelmoula, F., Mosha, F. S., Takawira, F. T., Derrar, F., Bouzid, F., Onikepe, F., Adeola, F., Muyembe, F. M., Tanser, F., Dratibi, F. A., Mbunsu, G. K., Thilliez, G., Kay, G. L., Githinji, G., van Zyl, G., Awandare, G. A., Schubert, G., Maphalala, G. P., Ranaivoson, H. C., Lemriss, H., Anise, H., Abe, H., Karray, H. H., Nansumba, H., Elgahzaly, H. A., Gumbo, H., Smeti, I., Ayed, I. B., Odia, I., Boubaker, I. B. B., Gaaloul, I., Gazy, I., Mudau, I., Ssewanyana, I., Konstantinus, I., Lekana-Douk, J. B., Makangara, J.-C. C., Tamfum, J.-J. M., Heraud, J.-M., Shaffer, J. G., Giandhari, J., Li, J., Yasuda, J., Mends, J. Q., Kiconco, J., Morobe, J. M., Gyapong, J. O., Okolie, J. C., Kayiwa, J. T., Edwards, J. A., Gyamfi, J., Farah, J., Nakaseegu, J., Ngoi, J. M., Namulondo, J., Andeko, J. C., Lutwama, J. J., O'Grady, J., Siddle, K., Adeyemi, K. T., Tumedi, K. A., Said, K. M., Hae-Young, K., Duedu, K. O., Belyamani, L., Fki-Berrajah, L., Singh, L., de O. Martins, L., Tyers, L., Ramuth, M., Mastouri, M., Aouni, M., el Hefnawi, M., Matsheka, M. I., Kebabonye, M., Diop, M., Turki, M., Paye, M., Nyaga, M. M., Mareka, M., Damaris, M.-M., Mburu, M. W., Mpina, M., Nwando, M., Owusu, M., Wiley, M. R., Youtchou, M. T., Ayekaba, M. O., Abouelhoda, M., Seadawy, M. G., Khalifa, M. K., Sekhele, M., Ouadghiri, M., Diagne, M. M., Mwenda, M., Allam, M., Phan, M. V. T., Abid, N., Touil, N., Rujeni, N., Kharrat, N., Ismael, N., Dia, N., Mabunda, N., Hsiao, N.-y., Silochi, N. B., Nsenga, N., Gumede, N., Mulder, N., Ndodo, N., Razanajatovo, N. H., Iguosadolo, N., Judith, O., Kingsley, O. C., Sylvanus, O., Peter, O., Femi, O., Idowu, O., Testimony, O., Chukwuma, O. E., Ogah, O. E., Chika, O., Cyril, O., Faye, O., Tomori, O., Ondoa, P., Combe, P., Semanda, P., Oluniyi, P. E., Arnaldo, P., Quashie, P. K., Dussart, P., Bester, P. A., Mbala, P. K., Ayivor-Djanie, R., Njouom, R., Phillips, R. O., Gorman, R., Kingsley, R. A., Carr, R. A. A., Kabbaj, S.¢d. E., Gargouri, S., Masmoudi, S., Sankhe, S., Lawal, S. B., Kassim, S., Trabelsi, S., Metha, S., Kammoun, S., Lemriss, S.¢, Agwa, S. H. A., Calvignac-Spencer, S.©b., Schaffner, S. F., Doumbia, S., Mandanda, S. M., Aryeetey, S., Ahmed, S. S., Elhamoumi, S., Andriamandimby, S., Tope, S., Lekana-Douki, S., Prosolek, S., Ouangraoua, S., Mundeke, S. A., Rudder, S., Panji, S., Pillay, S., Engelbrecht, S., Nabadda, S., Behillil, S., Budiaki, S. L., van der Werf, S., Mashe, T., Aanniz, T., Mohale, T., Le-Viet, T., Schindler, T., Anyaneji, U. J., Chinedu, U., Ramphal, U., Jessica, U., George, U., Fonseca, V., Enouf, V., Gorova, V., Roshdy, W. H., Ampofo, W. K., Preiser, W., Choga, W. T., Bediako, Y., Naidoo, Y., Butera, Y., de Laurent, Z. R., Sall, A. A., Rebai, A., von Gottberg, A., Kouriba, B., Williamson, C., Bridges, D. J., Chikwe, I., Bhiman, J., Mine, M., Cotten, M., Moyo, S., Gaseitsiwe, S., Saasa, N., Sabeti, P. C., Kaleebu, P., Tebeje, Y. K., Tessema, S. K., Happi, C., Nkengasong, J., and de Oliveira, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203
• Published Online: 09 September 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Science 374(6566): 423-431
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License