Recombinant BA.1/BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Arriving Travelers, Hong Kong, February 2022

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Jun;28(6):1276-1278. doi: 10.3201/eid2806.220523. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Abstract

We studied SARS-CoV-2 genomes from travelers arriving in Hong Kong during November 2021-February 2022. In addition to Omicron and Delta variants, we detected a BA.1/BA.2 recombinant with a breakpoint near the 5' end of the spike gene in 2 epidemiologically linked case-patients. Continued surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 recombinants is needed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hong Kong; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Orthopoxvirus*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants