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. 2021 Jul 21;87(1):71.
doi: 10.5334/aogh.3425. eCollection 2021.

The Dual/Global Value of SARS-CoV-2 Genome Surveillance on Migrants Arriving to Europe via the Mediterranean Routes

Claudia Marotta  1 , Paola Stefanelli  2 , Fabio Tramuto  3   4 , Ulrico Angeloni  1 , Carmelo Massimo Maida  3   4 , Achille Cernigliaro  5 , Teresa Barone  6 , Francesco Vitale  3   4 , Giovanni Rezza  1 , Walter Mazzucco  3   4   7 ; Sami-Surv Collaboration
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The Dual/Global Value of SARS-CoV-2 Genome Surveillance on Migrants Arriving to Europe via the Mediterranean Routes

Claudia Marotta et al. Ann Glob Health. .

Abstract

Despite the pandemic, 34,154 migrants, refugees or asylum-seekers landed in Sicily (Italy) in 2020, representing the main point of entry by sea into Europe. The SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program among migrants arriving to Sicily via the Mediterranean Sea, made by the combination of clinical examination and molecular testing, has been integrated by full-genome sequencing strains using the NGS technology from the last week of February. To date, more than one hundred full-genome strains have been sequenced and 8 different lineages have been identified mostly belonging to the lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.525. As global access to COVID-19 vaccines should be ensured, the need to provide more detailed information to inform policies and to drive the possible re-engineering of vaccines needed to deal with the challenge of new and future variants should be highlighted.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Countries of origin and routes followed by migrants to Europe through the points of entry in Southern Italy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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