December 11, 2020

Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Boston highlights the impact of superspreading events

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): transmission

• An analysis using 772 complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected in Boston in February and March 2020 and genomes published by the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data found numerous introductions of the virus in the Boston area, including two superspreading events. One event was an international business conference in Boston held in February, from which as many as 300,000 subsequent SARS-CoV-2 cases across the US and around the world can be linked. The second involved a skilled nursing facility that experienced rapid transmission and significant mortality but little broader spread. The study identified over 120 independent introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the Boston area from March to May 2020. [EDITORIAL NOTE: This manuscript was previously summarized as a pre-print on Aug 25.]

Lemieux et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Boston highlights the impact of superspreading events. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe3261