Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2022)

Introduction and Rapid Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant and Dynamics of BA.1 and BA.1.1 Sublineages, Finland, December 2021

  • Hanna Vauhkonen,
  • Phuoc Truong Nguyen,
  • Ravi Kant,
  • Ilja Plyusnin,
  • Mert Erdin,
  • Satu Kurkela,
  • Hanna Liimatainen,
  • Niina Ikonen,
  • Soile Blomqvist,
  • Kirsi Liitsola,
  • Erika Lindh,
  • Otto Helve,
  • Hanna Jarva,
  • Raisa Loginov,
  • Aino Palva,
  • Tiina Hannunen,
  • Sari Hannula,
  • Mikko Parry,
  • Paula Kauppi,
  • Antti Vaheri,
  • Tarja Sironen,
  • Maija Lappalainen,
  • Carita Savolainen-Kopra,
  • Teemu Smura,
  • Olli Vapalahti

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2806.220515
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 6
pp. 1229 – 1232

Abstract

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Multiple introductions of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 and BA.1.1. lineages to Finland were detected in early December 2021. Within 3 weeks, Omicron overtook Delta as the most common variant in the capital region. Sequence analysis demonstrated the emergence and spread through community transmission of a large cluster of BA.1.1 virus.

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