Title: An updated framework for SARS-CoV-2 variants reflects the unpredictability of viral evolution
Authors: Subissi L, Otieno JR, Worp N, Attar Cohen H, Oude Munnink BB, 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, El Masry I, Faye A, Ghedin E, Grant R, Haagmans BL, Happi C, Herring BL, Hodcroft EB, 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.
Journal: Nature Medicine,doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02949-0: (2024)

Abstract

The World Health Organization framework for tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants has been updated to reflect the continued evolution of the virus; this framework could be adapted for other emerging respiratory diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential.

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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Citation: Subissi L, Otieno JR, Worp N, Attar Cohen H, Oude Munnink BB, 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, El Masry I, Faye A, Ghedin E, Grant R, Haagmans BL, Happi C, Herring BL, Hodcroft EB, 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. An updated framework for SARS-CoV-2 variants reflects the unpredictability of viral evolution Nature Medicine,doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02949-0: (2024).