Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Russia reveals recurring cross-border transmission throughout 2020.

ABSTRACT: In 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the globe, with most nations failing to prevent or substantially delay its introduction. While many countries have imposed some limitations on trans-border passenger traffic, the effect of these measures on the global spread of COVID-19 strains remains unclear. Here, we report an analysis of 3206 whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 samples from 78 regions of Russia covering the period before the spread of variants of concern (between March and November 2020). We describe recurring imports of multiple COVID-19 strains into Russia throughout this period, giving rise to 457 uniquely Russian transmission lineages, as well as repeated cross-border transmissions of local circulating variants out of Russia. While the phylogenetically inferred rate of

SUBMITTER: Matsvay A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10187899 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature