COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 represents an ongoing global public health emergency. Rapid identification of emergence, evolution, and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) would enable timely and tailored responses by public health decision-making bodies. Yet, global disparities in current SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance activities reveal serious geographical gaps. Here, we discuss the experiences and lessons learned from the SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and surveillance program at the Public Health Laboratory on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea that was implemented as part of the national COVID-19 response and monitoring activities. We report how three distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants have dominated the epidemiological situation in Equatorial Guinea since March 2020. In addition, a case of co-infection of two SARS-CoV-2 VOC, Beta and Delta, in a clinically asymptomatic and fully COVID-19 vaccinated man living in Equatorial Guinea is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a person co-infected with Beta and Delta VOC globally. Rapid identification of co-infections is relevant since these might provide an opportunity for genetic recombination resulting in emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 lineages with enhanced transmission or immune evasion potential.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Genomic surveillance, variant of concern, Co-infection, Central-Africa, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, public health, Evolution, VoC, knowledge, Genetic, SARS-CoV-2 variant, Delta, Transmission, COVID-19 disease, activity, Spread, immune evasion, Asymptomatic, Surveillance, SARS-CoV-2 variants, response, Co-infection, Recombination, Rapid, Beta, Delta VOC, genetic recombination, Equatorial Guinea, global public health, epidemiological situation, activities, National, island, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, SARS-CoV-2 lineage, Public, resulting, caused, addition, clinically, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 identification, Multiple,