Emergence and evolution of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant in the island of Martinique

G N Gbaguidi; L Aubert; J Schaeffer; L Fagour; A Dubremetz; Vincent Enouf; M-H Glaudon-Louveau de la Guigneraye; F Nestour; J Rosine; G Dos Santos

doi:10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104690

Emergence and evolution of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant in the island of Martinique

Infect Dis Now. 2023 Jun;53(4):104690. doi: 10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104690. Epub 2023 Mar 1.

Authors

G N Gbaguidi¹, L Aubert², J Schaeffer³, L Fagour⁴, A Dubremetz⁴, Vincent Enouf⁵, M-H Glaudon-Louveau de la Guigneraye⁶, F Nestour⁷, J Rosine⁸, G Dos Santos⁹

Affiliations

¹ French National Public Health Agency in the French West Indes, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France. Electronic address: GwladysNadia.GBAGUIDI@santepubliquefrance.fr.
² French National Public Health Agency in the French West Indes, Gourbeyre, Guadeloupe, France.
³ French National Public Health Agency, Saint-Maurice, France.
⁴ Department of Virology, University Hospital Center, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France.
⁵ National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, CNRS-UMR 3569, The Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Mutualised Platform of Microbiology, Pasteur International Bioresources Network, The Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
⁶ BIO SANTE Laboratory, Martinique, France.
⁷ BIOLAB Laboratory, Martinique, France.
⁸ French National Public Health Agency in the French West Indes, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France.
⁹ Department of Virology, University Hospital Center, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France; UMR 1058 - Pathogenesis & Control of Chronic & Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to describe the epidemiological situation during the Omicron variant circulation in light of genomic surveillance data in Martinique, a territory with low vaccination rates.

Patients and methods: We exploited COVID-19 national databases of virological tests, for the collection of hospital data and for the sequencing data from December 13, 2021 to July 11, 2022.

Results: Three prevailing sub-lineages of Omicron have been identified in Martinique (BA.1, BA.2, BA.5) during this period causing three distinct waves characterized by an increase in virological indicators compared to previous waves, with moderate severity in the first and last waves, caused by BA.1 and BA.5, respectively.

Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is still progressing in Martinique. Genomic surveillance system in this overseas territory must be continued for rapid detection of emerging variants/sub-lineages.

Keywords: COVID-19; Island of Martinique; Omicron variant.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Martinique / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants