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. 2020 Jun;25(22):2000746.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.22.2000746.

Genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 reflects clonal superspreading and multiple independent introduction events, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany, February and March 2020

Andreas Walker  1   2 , Torsten Houwaart  2   3 , Tobias Wienemann  3 , Malte Kohns Vasconcelos  3 , Daniel Strelow  3 , Tina Senff  1 , Lisanna Hülse  3 , Ortwin Adams  1 , Marcel Andree  1 , Sandra Hauka  1 , Torsten Feldt  4 , Björn-Erik Jensen  4 , Verena Keitel  4 , Detlef Kindgen-Milles  5 , Jörg Timm  1 , Klaus Pfeffer  3 , Alexander T Dilthey  3
Affiliations

Genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 reflects clonal superspreading and multiple independent introduction events, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany, February and March 2020

Andreas Walker et al. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

We whole-genome sequenced 55 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from Germany to investigate SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in 2020 in the Heinsberg district and Düsseldorf. While the genetic structure of the Heinsberg outbreak indicates a clonal origin, reflecting superspreading dynamics from mid-February during the carnival season, distinct viral strains were circulating in Düsseldorf in March, reflecting the city's international links. Limited detection of Heinsberg strains in the Düsseldorf area despite geographical proximity may reflect efficient containment and contact-tracing efforts.

Keywords: COVID-19; Düsseldorf; Heinsberg; SARS-CoV-2; artic; genomic epidemiology; nanopore; superspreading.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Minimum spanning tree of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 sequences, showing 44 unambiguouslya resolved genomes from the Heinsberg district (n = 8) and the Düsseldorf area (n = 36), Germany, February–March 2020
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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