Scientific Reports (May 2021)

Surge of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections linked to single introduction of a virus strain in Myanmar, 2020

  • Myat Htut Nyunt,
  • Hnin Ohnmar Soe,
  • Kay Thi Aye,
  • Wah Wah Aung,
  • Yi Yi Kyaw,
  • Aung Kyaw Kyaw,
  • Theingi Win Myat,
  • Aung Zaw Latt,
  • Min Min Win,
  • Aye Aye Win,
  • Yin Min Htun,
  • Khaing Mar Zaw,
  • Phyu Win Ei,
  • Kyaw Thu Hein,
  • Lai Lai San,
  • Nan Aye Thida Oo,
  • Htin Lin,
  • Nan Cho Nwe Mon,
  • Khin Than Yee,
  • Khin Lapyae Htun,
  • Lynn Pa Pa Aye,
  • Yamin Ko Ko,
  • Thitsar Htet Htet Htoo,
  • Kham Mo Aung,
  • Hnin Azili,
  • Soe Soe Han,
  • Ni Ni Zaw,
  • Su Mon Win,
  • Wai Myat Thwe,
  • Thin Thin Aye,
  • Myat Su Hlaing,
  • Wai Yan Minn,
  • Pyae Phyo Thu,
  • Hlaing Myat Thu,
  • Zaw Than Htun

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89361-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a major health concern globally. Genomic epidemiology is an important tool to assess the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several mutations have been reported by genome analysis of the SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we investigated the mutational and phylogenetic analysis of 30 whole-genome sequences for the virus's genomic characteristics in the specimens collected in the early phase of the pandemic (March–June, 2020) and the sudden surge of local transmission (August–September, 2020). The four samples in the early phase of infection were B.6 lineage and located within a clade of the samples collected at the same time in Singapore and Malaysia, while five returnees by rescue flights showed the lineage B. 1.36.1 (three from India), B.1.1 (one from India) and B.1.80 (one from China). However, there was no evidence of local spread from these returnees. Further, all 19 whole-genome sequences collected in the sudden surge of local transmission showed lineage B.1.36. The surge of the second wave on SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to the single-introduction of a variant (B.1.36) that may result from the strict restriction of international travel and containment efforts. These genomic data provides the useful information to disease control and prevention strategy.