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A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa

  • Eduan Wilkinson
  • , Marta Giovanetti
  • , Houriiyah Tegally
  • , James E. San
  • , Richard Lessells
  • , Diego Cuadros
  • , Darren P. Martin
  • , David A. Rasmussen
  • , Abdel Rahman N. Zekri
  • , Abdoul K. Sangare
  • , Abdoul Salam Ouedraogo
  • , Abdul K. Sesay
  • , Abechi Priscilla
  • , Adedotun Sulaiman Kemi
  • , Adewunmi M. Olubusuyi
  • , Adeyemi O.O. Oluwapelumi
  • , Adnène Hammami
  • , Adrienne A. Amuri
  • , Ahmad Sayed
  • , Ahmed E.O. Ouma
  • Aida Elargoubi, Nnennaya A. Ajayi, Ajogbasile F. Victoria, Akano Kazeem, Akpede George, Alexander J. Trotter, Ali A. Yahaya, Alpha K. Keita, Amadou Diallo, Amadou Kone, Amal Souissi, Amel Chtourou, Ana V. Gutierrez, Andrew J. Page, Anika Vinze, Arash Iranzadeh, Arnold Lambisia, Arshad Ismail, Audu Rosemary, Augustina Sylverken, Ayoade Femi, Azeddine Ibrahimi, Baba Marycelin, Bamidele S. Oderinde, Bankole Bolajoko, Beatrice Dhaala, Belinda L. Herring, Berthe Marie Njanpop-Lafourcade, Bronwyn Kleinhans, Bronwyn McInnis, Bryan Tegomoh, Cara Brook, Catherine B. Pratt, Cathrine Scheepers, Chantal G. Akoua-Koffi, Charles N. Agoti, Christophe Peyrefitte, Claudia Daubenberger, Collins M. Morang’a, D. James Nokes, Daniel G. Amoako, Daniel L. Bugembe, Danny Park, David Baker, Deelan Doolabh, Deogratius Ssemwanga, Derek Tshiabuila, Diarra Bassirou, Dominic S.Y. Amuzu, Dominique Goedhals, Donwilliams O. Omuoyo, Dorcas Maruapula, Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko, Eddy K. Lusamaki, Edgar Simulundu, Edidah M. Ong’era, Edith N. Ngabana, Edwin Shumba, Elmostafa El Fahime, Emmanuel Lokilo, Enatha Mukantwari, Eromon Philomena, Essia Belarbi, Etienne Simon-Loriere, Etilé A. Anoh, Fabian Leendertz, Faida Ajili, Fakayode O. Enoch, Fares Wasfi, Fatma Abdelmoula, Fausta S. Mosha, Faustinos T. Takawira, Fawzi Derrar, Feriel Bouzid, Folarin Onikepe, Fowotade Adeola, Francisca M. Muyembe, Frank Tanser, Fred A. Dratibi, Gabriel K. Mbunsu, Gaetan Thilliez, Gemma L. Kay, George Githinji, Gert van Zyl, Gordon A. Awandare, Grit Schubert, Gugu P. Maphalala, Hafaliana C. Ranaivoson, Hajar Lemriss, Happi Anise, Haruka Abe, Hela H. Karray, Hellen Nansumba, Hesham A. Elgahzaly, Hlanai Gumbo, Ibtihel Smeti, Ikhlas B. Ayed, Ikponmwosa Odia, Ilhem Boutiba Ben Boubaker, Imed Gaaloul, Inbal Gazy, Innocent Mudau, Isaac Ssewanyana, Iyaloo Konstantinus, Jean B. Lekana-Douk, Jean Claude C. Makangara, Jean Jacques M. Tamfum, Jean Michel Heraud, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, Jennifer Giandhari, Jingjing Li, Jiro Yasuda, Joana Q. Mends, Jocelyn Kiconco, John M. Morobe, John O. Gyapong, Johnson C. Okolie, John T. Kayiwa, Johnathan A. Edwards, Jones Gyamfi, Jouali Farah, Joweria Nakaseegu, Joyce M. Ngoi, Joyce Namulondo, Julia C. Andeko, Julius J. Lutwama, Justin O’Grady, Katherine Siddle, Kayode T. Adeyemi, Kefentse A. Tumedi, Khadija M. Said, Kim Hae-Young, Kwabena O. Duedu, Lahcen Belyamani, Lamia Fki-Berrajah, Lavanya Singh, Leonardo de O. Martins, Lynn Tyers, Magalutcheemee Ramuth, Maha Mastouri, Mahjoub Aouni, Mahmoud el Hefnawi, Maitshwarelo I. Matsheka, Malebogo Kebabonye, Mamadou Diop, Manel Turki, Marietou Paye, Martin M. Nyaga, Mathabo Mareka, Matoke Muhia Damaris, Maureen W. Mburu, Maximillian Mpina, Mba Nwando, Michael Owusu, Michael R. Wiley, Mirabeau T. Youtchou, Mitoha O. Ayekaba, Mohamed Abouelhoda, Mohamed G. Seadawy, Mohamed K. Khalifa, Mooko Sekhele, Mouna Ouadghiri, Moussa M. Diagne, Mulenga Mwenda, Mushal Allam, My V.T. Phan, Nabil Abid, Nadia Touil, Nadine Rujeni, Najla Kharrat, Nalia Ismael, Ndongo Dia, Nedio Mabunda, Nei Yuan Hsiao, Nelson B. Silochi, Ngoy Nsenga, Nicksy Gumede, Nicola Mulder, Nnaemeka Ndodo, Norosoa H. Razanajatovo, Nosamiefan Iguosadolo, Oguzie Judith, Ojide C. Kingsley, Okogbenin Sylvanus, Okokhere Peter, Oladiji Femi, Olawoye Idowu, Olumade Testimony, Omoruyi E. Chukwuma, Onwe E. Ogah, Chika K. Onwuamah, Oshomah Cyril, Ousmane Faye, Oyewale Tomori, Pascale Ondoa, Patrice Combe, Patrick Semanda, Paul E. Oluniyi, Paulo Arnaldo, Peter K. Quashie, Philippe Dussart, Phillip A. Bester, Placide K. Mbala, Reuben Ayivor-Djanie, Richard Njouom, Richard O. Phillips, Richmond Gorman, Robert A. Kingsley, Rosina A.A. Carr, Saâd El Kabbaj, Saba Gargouri, Saber Masmoudi, Safietou Sankhe, Salako B. Lawal, Samar Kassim, Sameh Trabelsi, Samar Metha, Sami Kammoun, Sanaâ Lemriss, Sara H.A. Agwa, Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, Stephen F. Schaffner, Seydou Doumbia, Sheila M. Mandanda, Sherihane Aryeetey, Shymaa S. Ahmed, Siham Elhamoumi, Soafy Andriamandimby, Sobajo Tope, Sonia Lekana-Douki, Sophie Prosolek, Soumeya Ouangraoua, Steve A. Mundeke, Steven Rudder, Sumir Panji, Sureshnee Pillay, Susan Engelbrecht, Susan Nabadda, Sylvie Behillil, Sylvie L. Budiaki, Sylvie van der Werf, Tapfumanei Mashe, Tarik Aanniz, Thabo Mohale, Thanh Le-Viet, Tobias Schindler, Ugochukwu J. Anyaneji, Ugwu Chinedu, Upasana Ramphal, Uwanibe Jessica, Uwem George, Vagner Fonseca, Vincent Enouf, Vivianne Gorova, Wael H. Roshdy, William K. Ampofo, Wolfgang Preiser, Wonderful T. Choga, Yaw Bediako, Yeshnee Naidoo, Yvan Butera, Zaydah R. de Laurent, Amadou A. Sall, Ahmed Rebai, Anne von Gottberg, Bourema Kouriba, Carolyn Williamson, Daniel J. Bridges, Ihekweazu Chikwe, Jinal N. Bhiman, Madisa Mine, Matthew Cotten, Sikhulile Moyo, Simani Gaseitsiwe, Ngonda Saasa, Pardis C. Sabeti, Pontiano Kaleebu, Yenew K. Tebeje, Sofonias K. Tessema, Christian Happi, John Nkengasong, Tulio de Oliveira
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Stellenbosch University
  • Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
  • Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Cape Town
  • North Carolina State University
  • Cairo University
  • Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux-Mali (CICM-Mali)
  • Bacteriology and Virology Department Souro Sanou University Hospital
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Redeemer's University
  • College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
  • University of Ilorin
  • CHU Habib Bourguiba
  • Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB)
  • Université de Kinshasa
  • Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt
  • Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
  • University of Monastir
  • University Hospital of Monastir
  • Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital
  • Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
  • Quadram Institute
  • World Health Organization
  • Université de Conakry
  • Montpellier University
  • Institut Pasteur de Dakar
  • University Clinical Research Center (UCRC)
  • University of Sfax
  • Broad Institute
  • Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories Nairobi
  • National Health Laboratory Services
  • Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
  • Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin
  • Mohammed V University in Rabat
  • University of Maiduguri
  • Université de Yaoundé I
  • The University of Chicago
  • Institut Pasteur de Madagascar
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center
  • School of Pathology
  • Unité de Diagnostic des Virus des Fièvres Hémorragiques et Virus Émergents
  • Pwani University
  • Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Swiss TPH
  • University of Ghana
  • University of Warwick
  • Uganda Virus Research Institute
  • University of the Free State
  • Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
  • University of Zambia
  • African Society for Laboratory Medicine
  • Functional Genomic Platform/National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST)
  • Rwanda National Reference Laboratory
  • Robert Koch Institute
  • The Institut Pasteur de Dakar
  • University of Tunis El Manar
  • Ministry of Health
  • Université de Tunis El Manar
  • National Microbiology Reference Laboratory
  • National Influenza Centre
  • University of Lincoln
  • Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
  • Africa Health Research Institute
  • National Health Laboratory Service
  • Ministry of Health
  • Hassan I University
  • Nagasaki University
  • Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL)
  • Ain Shams University
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Namibia Institute of Pathology
  • Centre international de recherches médicales de Franceville
  • Tulane University
  • Drexel University
  • University of Health and Allied Sciences
  • Emory University
  • Anoual Laboratory
  • Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation
  • New York University
  • Ministry of Health and Wellness
  • National Research Centre
  • Botswana Ministry of Health & Wellness
  • University of the Free State, School of Medicine
  • National Reference Laboratory Lesotho
  • Kenya Medical Research Institute
  • Laboratorio de Investigaciones de Baney
  • Ifakara Health Institute
  • Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
  • Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)
  • Niger Delta University
  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
  • Egypt Army
  • PATH
  • University of Manouba
  • Ministry of Health
  • University of Rwanda
  • Ministério de Saúde
  • Mayotte Hospital Center
  • Centre Pasteur du Cameroun
  • Laboratoire de Recherche et d'Analyses Médicales de la Gendarmerie Royale
  • Hedi Chaker Hospital
  • Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL)
  • Centre MURAZ
  • National Institute of Public Health of Burkina Faso (INSP/BF)
  • Université Paris Cité
  • Sub-Saharan African Network For TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE)
  • Ministério da Saúde
  • Med24 Medical Centre
  • GIGA Research Institute
  • National Health Laboratory
  • MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
  • Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • University of Washington

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

156 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The progression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Africa has so far been heterogeneous, and the full impact is not yet well understood. In this study, we describe the genomic epidemiology using a dataset of 8746 genomes from 33 African countries and two overseas territories. We show that the epidemics in most countries were initiated by importations predominantly from Europe, which diminished after the early introduction of international travel restrictions. As the pandemic progressed, ongoing transmission in many countries and increasing mobility led to the emergence and spread within the continent of many variants of concern and interest, such as B.1.351, B.1.525, A.23.1, and C.1.1. Although distorted by low sampling numbers and blind spots, the findings highlight that Africa must not be left behind in the global pandemic response, otherwise it could become a source for new variants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)423-431
Number of pages9
JournalScience
Volume374
Issue number6566
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Oct 2021

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