Using Genomics to Track the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease in New Zealand
Real-time genome sequencing has played a major role in tracking the global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has contributed significantly to disease mitigation strategies. in August 2020, after the virus was eradicated, a second outbreak occurred in New Zealand. In August 2020, after the virus was eliminated, a second outbreak occurred in New Zealand. During that outbreak, New Zealand used genome sequencing in a key role, leading to a second elimination of the virus. 78% of laboratory-confirmed samples of SARS-CoV-2 from the second outbreak were genome-sequenced and compared to available global genomic data. Genome sequencing quickly identified the virus that caused the second outbreak in New Zealand as belonging to a single cluster. However, the success in identifying the cause of this outbreak was hampered by substantial biases and gaps in the global sequencing data. Access to a broader and more heterogeneous sample of global genomic data will enhance efforts to pinpoint the cause of the new outbreak.
Geoghegan JL, Douglas J, Ren X, Story M, Hadfield J, SilanderOK, et al. The use of genomics to track coronavirus disease outbreaks in New Zealand. Emerg InfectDis. 2021; 27(5): 1317-1322. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2705.204579
Commentary
The genomic epidemiological analysis of the origin of COVID-19, which re-emerged in New Zealand in August 2020, did not appear to be very reliable due to missing data. However, it was also reported that the genome sequenced from quarantined case patients who were SARS-CoV-2 positive and contained sequence differences between travelers and residents. These differences represent a much larger number of genomic variants than those observed during the initial outbreak, they said.
The identified sequences appear to be one of the most complete genomic datasets of a particular outbreak compiled to date, accounting for 78% of the existing positive patients. It was stated that these discoveries had helped control the outbreak and that the follow-up efforts had been rapid and had been successful in eliminating the virus in question from the population.
I am sure that similar studies have been conducted in Japan, but looking at those presentations and the current situation of the spread of infection, I have some doubts.
