Open AccessDispersal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the first epidemic wave in New York City
Author(s) -
Simon Dellicour,
Samuel L. Hong,
Bram Vrancken,
Antoine Chaillon,
Mandev S. Gill,
Matthew T. Maurano,
Sitharam Ramaswami,
Paul Zappile,
Christian Marier,
Gordon William Harkins,
Guy Baele,
Ralf Duerr,
Adriana Heguy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos pathogens
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.719
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1553-7374
pISSN - 1553-7366
DOI - 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009571
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , phylogeography , pandemic , transmission (telecommunications) , metropolitan area , geography , covid-19 , biology , outbreak , phylogenetic tree , demography , virology , evolutionary biology , genetics , population , medicine , disease , archaeology , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , electrical engineering , gene , engineering
During the first phase of the COVID-19 epidemic, New York City rapidly became the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States. While molecular phylogenetic analyses have previously highlighted multiple introductions and a period of cryptic community transmission within New York City, little is known about the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 within and among its boroughs. We here perform phylogeographic investigations to gain insights into the circulation of viral lineages during the first months of the New York City outbreak. Our analyses describe the dispersal dynamics of viral lineages at the state and city levels, illustrating that peripheral samples likely correspond to distinct dispersal events originating from the main metropolitan city areas. In line with the high prevalence recorded in this area, our results highlight the relatively important role of the borough of Queens as a transmission hub associated with higher local circulation and dispersal of viral lineages toward the surrounding boroughs.