Work

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in West Africa: Insights into genomic surveillance in resource-constrained settings

Year: 2024

Type: review

Abstract: SARS-CoV-2 geno-surveillance has been challenging in West Africa. Despite the multiple challenges encountered, particularly in West Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts were made to circumscribe the spread of the disease and to provide methods and resources for surveillance. We aim to describe the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlight the efforts made in genomic surveillance in West Africa. Therefore, we proceeded to retrieve West African countries' SARS-CoV-2 data from public repository (GISAID) and then ensued to a descriptive statistical analysis. From the start of the pandemic till December 2023, we found less than a million COVID-19 cases notified within the West African region. Overall, the study population was 50.21 % Males with a median age of 37. Regarding genomic data, only 3.02 % of cases were sequenced and deposited in GISAID. Of the available sequence, we noted that most of the variants have circulated in West Africa before the official notification of the variants. Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal provided together more than half of West Africa's originating sequences when Omicron and Delta variants were the most sequenced in West Africa. • Most of West-African countries have local access to sequencing platform. • All SARS-CoV-2 variants circulated in West Africa, Delta and Omicron variants were the most sequenced variants. • Some variants of concern have been found on sample collected before the official notification of the variant. • There is a need to enhance genomic surveillance capabilities within the region.

Source: Infection Genetics and Evolution

DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105681