Phylodynamic Analysis of Ebola Virus Disease Transmission in Sierra Leone.

ABSTRACT: We generated genome sequences from 218 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone (SLE) during 2014⁻2015 to complement available datasets, particularly by including cases from a period of low sequence coverage during peak transmission of Ebola virus (EBOV) in the highly-affected Western Area division of SLE. The combined dataset was utilized to produce phylogenetic and phylodynamic inferences, to study sink⁻source dynamics and virus dispersal from highly-populated transmission hotspots. We identified four districts in SLE where EBOV was introduced and transmission occurred without onward exportation to other districts. We also identified six districts that substantially contributed to the dispersal of the virus and prolonged the EVD outbreak: five of these served as major hubs, wit

SUBMITTER: Jansen van Vuren P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6356631 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature