An updated framework for SARS-CoV-2 variants reflects the unpredictability of viral evolution

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 variants have been designated as variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs) on the basis of their potential to replace previously circulating variants and cause new waves of increased transmission globally; such variants may require adjustments in public health responses. During the first two years of the pandemic, four VOCs and eight VOIs were designated by the World Health Organization (WHO), and these were overall closely related to the index virus.

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Publication
Contributors
Subissi L, Otieno JR, Worp N, Cohen HA, Munnink BBO, Abu-Raddad LJ, Alm E, Barakat A, Barclay WS, Bhiman JN, Caly L, Chand M, Chen M, Cullinane A, de Oliveira T, Drosten C, Druce J, Effler P, Masry IE, Faye A, Ghedin E, Grant R, Haagmans BL, Happi C, Herring BL, Hodcroft EM, Ikejezie J, Katawera V, Kassamali ZA, Leo YS, Leung GM, Kondor RJ, Marklewitz M, Mendez-Rico J, Melhem NM, Munster V, Nahapetyan K, Naindoo D, Oh DY, Peacock TP, Peiris M, Peng Z, Poon LLM, Rambaut A, Saha S, Shen Y, Siqueira MM, Volz E, Tessema SK, Thiel V, Triki H, van der Werf S, von Eije K, Cunningham J, Koopmans MPG, von Gottberg A, Agrawal A, van Kerkhove MD
Year
2024
Journal
Nature medicine
Volume
47
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