Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Distribution of Clades in the Republic of Korea in 2020
10.24171/j.phrp.2021.12.1.06
- Author:
Ae Kyung PARK
1
;
Il-Hwan KIM
;
Junyoung KIM
;
Jeong-Min KIM
;
Heui Man KIM
;
Chae young LEE
;
Myung-Guk HAN
;
Gi-Eun RHIE
;
Donghyok KWON
;
Jeong-Gu NAM
;
Young-Joon PARK
;
Jin GWACK
;
Nam-Joo LEE
;
SangHee WOO
;
Jin Sun NO
;
Jaehee LEE
;
Jeemin HA
;
JeeEun RHEE
;
Cheon-Kwon YOO
;
Eun-Jin KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Report
- From:
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
2021;12(1):37-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Since a novel beta-coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019, there has been a rapid global spread of the virus. Genomic surveillance was conducted on samples isolated from infected individuals to monitor the spread of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency performed whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea for 1 year (January 2020 to January 2021). A total of 2,488 SARSCoV-2 cases were sequenced (including 648 cases from abroad). Initially, the prevalent clades of SARSCoV-2 were the S and V clades, however, by March 2020, GH clade was the most dominant. Only international travelers were identified as having G or GR clades, and since the first variant 501Y.V1 was identified (from a traveler from the United Kingdom on December 22 nd , 2020), a total of 27 variants of 501Y.V1, 501Y.V2, and 484K.V2 have been classified (as of January 25 th , 2021). The results in this study indicated that quarantining of travelers entering Korea successfully prevented dissemination of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Korea.
