Viana, RaquelRaquelVianaMoyo, SikhulileSikhulileMoyoAmoako, Daniel GDaniel GAmoakoTegally, HouriiyahHouriiyahTegallyScheepers, CathrineCathrineScheepersAlthaus, ChristianChristianAlthaus0000-0002-5230-6760Anyaneji, Ugochukwu JUgochukwu JAnyanejiBester, Phillip APhillip ABesterBoni, Maciej FMaciej FBoniChand, MohammedMohammedChandChoga, Wonderful TWonderful TChogaColquhoun, RachelRachelColquhounDavids, MichaelaMichaelaDavidsDeforche, KoenKoenDeforcheDoolabh, DeelanDeelanDoolabhdu Plessis, LouisLouisdu PlessisEngelbrecht, SusanSusanEngelbrechtEveratt, JosieJosieEverattGiandhari, JenniferJenniferGiandhariGiovanetti, MartaMartaGiovanettiHardie, DianaDianaHardieHill, VerityVerityHillHsiao, Nei-YuanNei-YuanHsiaoIranzadeh, ArashArashIranzadehIsmail, ArshadArshadIsmailJoseph, CharityCharityJosephJoseph, RageemaRageemaJosephKoopile, LegodileLegodileKoopileKosakovsky Pond, Sergei LSergei LKosakovsky PondKraemer, Moritz U GMoritz U GKraemerKuate-Lere, LesegoLesegoKuate-LereLaguda-Akingba, OluwakemiOluwakemiLaguda-AkingbaLesetedi-Mafoko, OnalethathaOnalethathaLesetedi-MafokoLessells, Richard JRichard JLessellsLockman, ShahinShahinLockmanLucaci, Alexander GAlexander GLucaciMaharaj, ArishaArishaMaharajMahlangu, BoitshokoBoitshokoMahlanguMaponga, TongaiTongaiMapongaMahlakwane, KamelaKamelaMahlakwaneMakatini, ZinhleZinhleMakatiniMarais, GertGertMaraisMaruapula, DorcasDorcasMaruapulaMasupu, KerengKerengMasupuMatshaba, MogomotsiMogomotsiMatshabaMayaphi, SimnikiweSimnikiweMayaphiMbhele, NokuzolaNokuzolaMbheleMbulawa, Mpaphi BMpaphi BMbulawaMendes, AdrianoAdrianoMendesMlisana, KolekaKolekaMlisanaMnguni, AneleAneleMnguniMohale, ThaboThaboMohaleMoir, MonikaMonikaMoirMoruisi, KgomotsoKgomotsoMoruisiMosepele, MosepeleMosepeleMosepeleMotsatsi, GeraldGeraldMotsatsiMotswaledi, Modisa SModisa SMotswalediMphoyakgosi, ThongbothoThongbothoMphoyakgosiMsomi, NokukhanyaNokukhanyaMsomiMwangi, Peter NPeter NMwangiNaidoo, YeshneeYeshneeNaidooNtuli, NoxoloNoxoloNtuliNyaga, MartinMartinNyagaOlubayo, LucierLucierOlubayoPillay, SureshneeSureshneePillayRadibe, BotsheloBotsheloRadibeRamphal, YajnaYajnaRamphalRamphal, UpasanaUpasanaRamphalSan, James EJames ESanScott, LesleyLesleyScottShapiro, RogerRogerShapiroSingh, LavanyaLavanyaSinghSmith-Lawrence, PamelaPamelaSmith-LawrenceStevens, WendyWendyStevensStrydom, AmyAmyStrydomSubramoney, KathleenKathleenSubramoneyTebeila, NaumeNaumeTebeilaTshiabuila, DerekDerekTshiabuilaTsui, JosephJosephTsuivan Wyk, StephanieStephanievan WykWeaver, StevenStevenWeaverWibmer, Constantinos KConstantinos KWibmerWilkinson, EduanEduanWilkinsonWolter, NicoleNicoleWolterZarebski, Alexander EAlexander EZarebskiZuze, BoitumeloBoitumeloZuzeGoedhals, DominiqueDominiqueGoedhalsPreiser, WolfgangWolfgangPreiserTreurnicht, FloretteFloretteTreurnichtVenter, MarietjeMarietjeVenterWilliamson, CarolynCarolynWilliamsonPybus, Oliver GOliver GPybusBhiman, JinalJinalBhimanGlass, AllisonAllisonGlassMartin, Darren PDarren PMartinRambaut, AndrewAndrewRambautGaseitsiwe, SimaniSimaniGaseitsiwevon Gottberg, AnneAnnevon Gottbergde Oliveira, TulioTuliode Oliveira2024-10-092024-10-092022-03https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/67014The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in southern Africa has been characterised by three distinct waves. The first was associated with a mix of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, whilst the second and third waves were driven by the Beta and Delta variants, respectively1-3. In November 2021, genomic surveillance teams in South Africa and Botswana detected a new SARS-CoV-2 variant associated with a rapid resurgence of infections in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Within three days of the first genome being uploaded, it was designated a variant of concern (Omicron) by the World Health Organization and, within three weeks, had been identified in 87 countries. The Omicron variant is exceptional for carrying over 30 mutations in the spike glycoprotein, predicted to influence antibody neutralization and spike function4. Here, we describe the genomic profile and early transmission dynamics of Omicron, highlighting the rapid spread in regions with high levels of population immunity.en600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social servicesarticle10.48350/1648603504222910.1038/s41586-022-04411-y