Early detection of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 lineage through integrated genomic surveillance of wastewater and COVID-19 cases in Sweden, weeks 31 to 38 2023
Carmen Espinosa‐Gongora, Carlo Berg, Moa Rehn, Javier Edo Varg, Lena Dillner, Neus Latorre‐Margalef, Anna J. Székely, Emmi Andersson, Elin Movert
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 Omicron subvariant was first detected in wastewater in Sweden in week 31 2023, using 21 highly specific markers from the 50 investigated. We report BA.2.86's introduction and subsequent spread to all 14 regions performing wastewater sampling, and on 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with the emergence of sublineages JN.1 and JN.2. Further, we investigated two novel mutations defining the unique BA.2.86 branching in Sweden. Our integrated approach enabled variant tracking, offering evidence for well-informed public health interventions.
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Wastewater2019-20 coronavirus outbreakLineage (genetic)VirologyVeterinary medicineBiologyMedicineInternal medicineGeneticsEnvironmental scienceGeneEnvironmental engineeringInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakDiseaseSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchBiosensors and Analytical Detection