Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 21, 2021

Emergence and Spread of the Potential Variant of Interest (VOI) B.1.1.519 Predominantly Present in Mexico

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  • [Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Investigators described the emergence and spread of a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest (B.1.1.519) in Mexico with mutations T478L, P681H, and T732A in the spike protein. Out of 2,692 SARS-CoV-2 samples analyzed for genomic sequence between March 1, 2020 and March 21, 2021, 37.8% were B.1.1.519. The variant was not detected prior to October 2020, but by February 2021, it comprised 73.6% of samples analyzed and was present in samples from all 24 Mexican states. The authors note that there is no evidence to-date of an association with increased transmission, virulence, reinfection rates, or changes in vaccine effectiveness, but urge continued genomic surveillance to assess the possible impact of this and future variants.    

Rodriguez-Maldonado et al. (May 20, 2021). Emergence and Spread of the Potential Variant of Interest (VOI) B.1.1.519 Predominantly Present in Mexico. Pre-print downloaded May 21 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.18.21255620