Inferring enterovirus D68 transmission dynamics from the genomic data of two 2022 North American outbreaks.

ABSTRACT: Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has emerged as a significant cause of acute respiratory illness in children globally, notably following its extensive outbreak in North America in 2014. A recent outbreak of EV-D68 was observed in Ontario, Canada, from August to October 2022. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed a notable genetic similarity between the Ontario outbreak and a concurrent outbreak in Maryland, USA. Utilizing Bayesian phylodynamic modeling on whole genome sequences (WGS) from both outbreaks, we determined the median peak time-varying reproduction number (R_t) to be 2.70, 95% HPD (1.76, 4.08) in Ontario and 2.10, 95% HPD (1.41, 3.17) in Maryland. The R_t trends in Ontario closely matched those derived via EpiEstim using reported case numbers. Our study also provides ne

SUBMITTER: Grunnill M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11721450 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature