Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2022)

Genomic Evidence of In-Flight SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, India to Australia, April 2021

  • Freya Hogarth,
  • Pasqualina Coffey,
  • Laura Goddard,
  • Sarah Lewis,
  • Shereen Labib,
  • Mathilda Wilmot,
  • Patiyan Andersson,
  • Norelle Sherry,
  • Torsten Seemann,
  • Benjamin P. Howden,
  • Kevin Freeman,
  • Robert Baird,
  • Ian Hosegood,
  • Kathleen McDermott,
  • Nick Walsh,
  • Ben Polkinghorne,
  • Catherine Marshall,
  • Jane Davies,
  • Vicki Krause,
  • Ella M. Meumann

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2807.212466
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 7
pp. 1527 – 1530

Abstract

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Epidemiologic and genomic investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with 2 repatriation flights from India to Australia in April 2021 indicated that 4 passengers transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to >11 other passengers. Results suggest transmission despite mandatory mask use and predeparture testing. For subsequent flights, predeparture quarantine and expanded predeparture testing were implemented.

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