Genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Rwanda reveals the importance of incoming travelers on lineage diversity
Yvan Butera, Enatha Mukantwari, Maria Artesi, Jeanne d’Arc Umuringa, Áine O’Toole, Verity Hill, Stefan Rooke, Samuel L. Hong, Simon Dellicour, Onesphore Majyambere, Sébastien Bontems, Bouchra Boujemla, Josh Quick, Paola Cristina Resende, Nick Loman, Espérance Umumararungu, Alice Kabanda, Marylin Milumbu Murindahabi, Patrick Tuyisenge, Misbah Gashegu, Jean Paul Rwabihama, Reuben Sindayiheba, Djordje Gikic, Jacob Souopgui, Wilfred Ndifon, Robert Rutayisire, Swaibu Gatare, Tharcisse Mpunga, Daniel Ngamije, Vincent Bours, Andrew Rambaut, Sabin Nsanzimana, Guy Baele, Keith Durkin, Léon Mutesa, Nadine Rujeni
Abstract
COVID-19 transmission rates are often linked to locally circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2. Here we describe 203 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences analyzed from strains circulating in Rwanda from May 2020 to February 2021. In particular, we report a shift in variant distribution towards the emerging sub-lineage A.23.1 that is currently dominating. Furthermore, we report the detection of the first Rwandan cases of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of concern among incoming travelers tested at Kigali International Airport. To assess the importance of viral introductions from neighboring countries and local transmission, we exploit available individual travel history metadata to inform spatio-temporal phylogeographic inference, enabling us to take into account infections from unsampled locations. We uncover an important role of neighboring countries in seeding introductions into Rwanda, including those from which no genomic sequences were available. Our results highlight the importance of systematic genomic surveillance and regional collaborations for a durable response towards combating COVID-19.