| Title: |
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning |
| Authors: |
Nickbakhsh, S; Hughes, J; Christofidis, N; Griffiths, E; Shaaban, S; Enright, J; Smollett, K; Nomikou, K; Palmalux, N; Tong, L; Carmichael, S; Sreenu, VB; Orton, R; Goldstein, EJ; Tomb, RM; Robson, SC; Connor, TR; Loman, NJ; Golubchik, T; Nunez, RTM; Bonsall, D; Rambaut, A; Snell, LB; Livett, R; Ludden, C; Corden, S; Nastouli, E; Nebbia, G; Johnston, I; Lythgoe, K; Torok, ME; Goodfellow, IG; Prieto, JA; Saeed, K; Jackson, DK; Houlihan, C; Frampton, D; Hamilton, WL; Witney, AA; Bucca, G; Pope, CF; Moore, C; Thomson, EC; Harrison, EM; Smith, CP; Rogan, F; Beckwith, SM; Murray, A; Singleton, D; Eastick, K; Sheridan, LA; Randell, P; Jackson, LM; Ariani, CV; Gonçalves, S; Fairley, DJ; Loose, MW; Watkins, J; Moses, S; Nicholls, S; Bull, M; Amato, R; Smith, DL; Aanensen, DM; Barrett, JC; Aggarwal, D; Shepherd, JG; Curran, MD; Parmar, S; Parker, MD; Williams, C; Glaysher, S; Underwood, AP; Bashton, M; Pacchiarini, N; Loveson, KF; Byott, M; Carabelli, AM; Templeton, KE; de Silva, TI; Wang, D; Langford, CF; Sillitoe, J; Gunson, RN; Cottrell, S; O’Grady, J; Kwiatkowski, D; Lillie, PJ; Cortes, N; Moore, N; Thomas, C; Burns, PJ; Mahungu, TW; Liggett, S; Beckett, AH; Holden, MTG; Levett, LJ; Osman, H; Hassan-Ibrahim, MO; Simpson, DA |
| Source: |
Scientific Reports , 12 , Article 11735. (2022) |
| Publisher Information: |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
| Publication Year: |
2022 |
| Collection: |
University College London: UCL Discovery |
| Description: |
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. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10153363/ |
| Availability: |
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10153363/1/s41598-022-15661-1.pdf; https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10153363/ |
| Rights: |
open |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.82C10CF5 |
| Database: |
BASE |