We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning.
- Authors
Nickbakhsh, Sema; Hughes, Joseph; Christofidis, Nicolaos; Griffiths, Emily; Shaaban, Sharif; Enright, Jessica; Smollett, Katherine; Nomikou, Kyriaki; Palmalux, Natasha; Tong, Lily; Carmichael, Stephen; Sreenu, Vattipally B.; Orton, Richard; Goldstein, Emily J.; Tomb, Rachael M.; The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium; Robson, Samuel C.; Connor, Thomas R.; Loman, Nicholas J.; Golubchik, Tanya
- Abstract
Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has occurred at an unprecedented scale, and can be exploited for characterising outbreak risks at the fine-scale needed to inform control strategies. One setting at continued risk of COVID-19 outbreaks are higher education institutions, associated with student movements at the start of term, close living conditions within residential halls, and high social contact rates. Here we analysed SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences in combination with epidemiological data to investigate a large cluster of student cases associated with University of Glasgow accommodation in autumn 2020, Scotland. We identified 519 student cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with this large cluster through contact tracing data, with 30% sequencing coverage for further analysis. We estimated at least 11 independent introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the student population, with four comprising the majority of detected cases and consistent with separate outbreaks. These four outbreaks were curtailed within a week following implementation of control measures. The impact of student infections on the local community was short-term despite an underlying increase in community infections. Our study highlights the need for context-specific information in the formation of public health policy for higher educational settings.
- Subjects
SCOTLAND; UNIVERSITY of Glasgow; CONTACT tracing; SARS-CoV-2; WHOLE genome sequencing; HEALTH policy; STUDENT activism; SOCIAL contact
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2022, Vol 12, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41598-022-15661-1