Recombinant BA.1/BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Arriving Travelers, Hong Kong, February 2022
Haogao Gu, Daisy Y.M. Ng, Gigi Y.Z. Liu, Samuel Cheng, Pavithra Krishnan, Lydia Dai Jia Chang, Sammi S.Y. Cheuk, Mani M.Y. Hui, Tommy Tsan‐Yuk Lam, Malik Peiris, Leo L. M. Poon
Abstract
We studied SARS-CoV-2 genomes from travelers arriving in Hong Kong during November 2021-February 2022. In addition to Omicron and Delta variants, we detected a BA.1/BA.2 recombinant with a breakpoint near the 5' end of the spike gene in 2 epidemiologically linked case-patients. Continued surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 recombinants is needed.
Topics & Concepts
VirologySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Recombinant DNACoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Virus2019-20 coronavirus outbreakGenomeBreakpointBiologyPandemicMedicineGeneGeneticsOutbreakChromosomal translocationPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseaseSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections StudiesPlant Virus Research Studies