International risk of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant importations originating in South Africa
Yuan Bai, Zhanwei Du, Mingda Xu, Lin Wang, Peng Wu, Eric H. Y. Lau, Benjamin J. Cowling, Lauren Ancel Meyers
Abstract
Omicron, a fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern reported to the World Health Organization on 24 November 2021, has raised international alarm. We estimated there is at least 50% chance that Omicron had been introduced by travellers from South Africa into 11 of the 14 countries studied by 28 November 2021.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakVirologyPandemicBetacoronavirusEnvironmental healthPathologyDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 epidemiological studiesVaccine Coverage and Hesitancy