tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Virus Evol
. 2021 Sep 12;7(2):veab077.
doi: 10.1093/ve/veab077. eCollection 2021.
Genomic epidemiology reveals the reduction of the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 after implementing control strategies in Republic of Korea, 2020
Jung-Hoon Kwon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jeong-Min Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dong-Hun Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ae Kyung Park[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Il-Hwan Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Da-Won Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ji-Yun Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Noori Lim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kyeong-Yeon Cho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heui Man Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Nam-Joo Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], SangHee Woo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chae Young Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jin Sun No[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Junyoung Kim[SUP] 5 [/SUP], JeeEun Rhee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Myung-Guk Han[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Gi-Eun Rhie[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Cheon Kwon Yoo[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Eun-Jin Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Genomic epidemiology is a core component in investigating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, the efficacy of control strategies in South Korea was evaluated using genomic epidemiology based on viral genome sequences of 2,065 SARS-CoV-2 cases identified in South Korea from January 2020 to December 2020. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of viruses introduced from inbound travelers did not further spread throughout South Korea; however, four distinct subgroups (KR.1-4, belonging to B.1.497, B.1, K.1 and B.41) of viruses caused local epidemics. After the introduction of enhanced social distancing, the viral population size and daily case numbers decreased, and KR.2-4 subgroups were extinguished from South Korea. Nevertheless, there was a subsequent increase in KR.1 subgroups after the downgrading of social distancing level. These results indicate that the international traveler quarantine system implemented in South Korea along with social distancing measures efficiently reduced the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, but it was not completely controlled. An improvement of control strategies will be required to better control SARS-CoV-2, its variants, and future pandemic viruses.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; genomic epidemiology; phylogeography; social distancing; traveler quarantine.
. 2021 Sep 12;7(2):veab077.
doi: 10.1093/ve/veab077. eCollection 2021.
Genomic epidemiology reveals the reduction of the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 after implementing control strategies in Republic of Korea, 2020
Jung-Hoon Kwon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jeong-Min Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dong-Hun Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ae Kyung Park[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Il-Hwan Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Da-Won Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ji-Yun Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Noori Lim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kyeong-Yeon Cho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heui Man Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Nam-Joo Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], SangHee Woo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chae Young Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jin Sun No[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Junyoung Kim[SUP] 5 [/SUP], JeeEun Rhee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Myung-Guk Han[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Gi-Eun Rhie[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Cheon Kwon Yoo[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Eun-Jin Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34760282
- PMCID: PMC8574293
- DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab077
Abstract
Genomic epidemiology is a core component in investigating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, the efficacy of control strategies in South Korea was evaluated using genomic epidemiology based on viral genome sequences of 2,065 SARS-CoV-2 cases identified in South Korea from January 2020 to December 2020. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of viruses introduced from inbound travelers did not further spread throughout South Korea; however, four distinct subgroups (KR.1-4, belonging to B.1.497, B.1, K.1 and B.41) of viruses caused local epidemics. After the introduction of enhanced social distancing, the viral population size and daily case numbers decreased, and KR.2-4 subgroups were extinguished from South Korea. Nevertheless, there was a subsequent increase in KR.1 subgroups after the downgrading of social distancing level. These results indicate that the international traveler quarantine system implemented in South Korea along with social distancing measures efficiently reduced the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, but it was not completely controlled. An improvement of control strategies will be required to better control SARS-CoV-2, its variants, and future pandemic viruses.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; genomic epidemiology; phylogeography; social distancing; traveler quarantine.