Resurgence of Omicron BA.2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT: Hong Kong experienced a surge of Omicron BA.2 infections in early 2022, resulting in one of the highest per-capita death rates of COVID-19. The outbreak occurred in a dense population with low immunity towards natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, high vaccine hesitancy in vulnerable populations, comprehensive disease surveillance and the capacity for stringent public health and social measures (PHSMs). By analyzing genome sequences and epidemiological data, we reconstructed the epidemic trajectory of BA.2 wave and found that the initial BA.2 community transmission emerged from cross-infection within hotel quarantine. The rapid implementation of PHSMs suppressed early epidemic growth but the effective reproduction number (R_e) increased again during the Spring festival in early February

SUBMITTER: Xie R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10134727 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature