Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 3, 2020

Early Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa: An Epidemiological and Phylogenetic Report

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  • [pre-print, not peer reviewed] Using genomic surveillance and phylogenetic methods, Giandhari et al. found evidence of multiple international introductions and high rates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa. They also found evidence for a localized outbreak in a hospital in Durban, potentially explaining the initially high death rates reported in that province. This study highlights the potential role for genomics in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. 

Giandhari et al. (May 30, 2020). Early Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa: An Epidemiological and Phylogenetic Report. Preprint downloaded June 3 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.29.20116376