Molecular evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in New York before the first pandemic wave.
Nat Commun
; 12(1): 3463, 2021 06 08.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34103497
ABSTRACT
Numerous reports document the spread of SARS-CoV-2, but there is limited information on its introduction before the identification of a local case. This may lead to incorrect assumptions when modeling viral origins and transmission. Here, we utilize a sample pooling strategy to screen for previously undetected SARS-CoV-2 in de-identified, respiratory pathogen-negative nasopharyngeal specimens from 3,040 patients across the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. The patients had been previously evaluated for respiratory symptoms or influenza-like illness during the first 10 weeks of 2020. We identify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from specimens collected as early as 25 January 2020, and complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from multiple pools of samples collected between late February and early March, documenting an increase prior to the later surge. Our results provide evidence of sporadic SARS-CoV-2 infections a full month before both the first officially documented case and emergence of New York as a COVID-19 epicenter in March 2020.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Pandemias
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nat Commun
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos