Recently, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. A new SARS-CoV-2 strain is expected to emerge in late 2020, including B.1.1.7. The
high transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 has raised public health concerns in several countries. Hence, in
this study, we assessed the sequencing of SARS-COV2 to reveals the prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant
(B 1.1.7) in Egypt. We found that the viral transmission of the alpha variant is expanding. Moreover, based on
hospitalizations and case fatality rates, there is a potential for increasing severity. There was no effect on susceptibility
to Emergency Use Authorization monoclonal antibody treatments. However, there was minimal
impact on neutralization by convalescent and post-vaccination sera. Samples have been clustered into the 20D
sub clade for the majority of them. The eight samples shown in our study are considered the first recorded
samples with the Alpha variant in Egypt. Therefore, The Egyptian government, represented by the Ministry of
Health, must take all measures to examine the compatibility of the currently used vaccines with this new strain
and the feasibility of the treatment protocol presently used with such strains developed in the Arab Republic of
Egypt. |
