Occurrence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Viet Nam in early 2022

Authors

  • Trang thi Hong Ung National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Phuong Vu Mai Hoang National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Son Vu Nguyen National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Hang Le Khanh Nguyen National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Phuong thi Kim Nguyen Department of Infection Control, 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Dan Tan Phan Division of Preventive Medicine, Viet Nam Military Medical Department, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Thanh Thi Le National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Anh Phuong Nguyen National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Thach Co Nguyen National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • Futoshi Hasebe Vietnam Research Station, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
  • Mai thi Quynh Le National Influenza Center, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2022.13.3.955

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2 omicron subvariant BA.2, COVID-19, whole genome sequencing, Viet Nam, imported infection, community transmission

Abstract

The Omicron variant caused a surge of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Viet Nam in early 2022, signalling community transmission. We report on active whole-genome sequencing surveillance of positive SARS-CoV-2 samples collected at that time in northern Viet Nam from international arrivals and community clusters. We used an amplicon protocol developed with 14 polymerase chain reaction products and the Illumina iSeq 100 platform. Overall, 213 nasopharyngeal or throat swabs were analysed, of which 172 samples were identified with the Omicron variant. Of these, 80 samples were collected from community cases in February 2022, among which 59 samples were sublineage BA.2 and one sample was the recombinant XE variant. Our results indicated that Omicron had replaced Delta as the dominant variant in a very short period of time and that continuously conducting active whole-genome sequencing surveillance is necessary in monitoring the evolution and genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Viet Nam.

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Published

19-09-2022

How to Cite

1.
Ung T thi H, Hoang PVM, Nguyen SV, Nguyen HLK, Nguyen P thi K, Phan DT, Le TT, Nguyen AP, Nguyen TC, Hasebe F, Le M thi Q. Occurrence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Viet Nam in early 2022. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 19 [cited 2026 Mar. 20];13(3). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/955

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2022): July ‒ September

Section

COVID-19: Field Investigation Report

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