Sachse Sven, Kraiselburd Ivana, Anastasiou Olympia Evdoxia, Elsner Carina, Goretzki Sarah Christina, Goer Stefan, Koldehoff Michael, Thomas Alexander, Schoth Jens, Voigt Sebastian, Roß Rudolf Stephan, Dittmer Ulf, Meyer Folker, Schmithausen Ricarda Maria
Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45131 Essen, Germany.
Department of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.
Viruses. 2025 Mar 27;17(4):477. doi: 10.3390/v17040477.
In December 2021, an outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.640.2 variant, potentially originating from Cameroon, was investigated among schoolchildren in Germany. The index case, an adult who had recently returned from a three-week stay in the Republic of Congo, introduced the variant into a school setting via their children, resulting in subsequent transmission within the school and ultimately to a hospital ward. Whole-genome sequencing of viral samples identified both B.1.640.1 and B.1.640.2 lineages. This outbreak highlights the unpredictable nature of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and emphasizes the importance of early detection and containment to mitigate transmission to high-risk populations. Notably, wastewater surveillance detected the variant during the study peri-od, reinforcing the utility of wastewater-based epidemiology as a complementary tool for the early warning and containment of novel variants. These findings underline the critical need for timely research and adherence to quarantine measures to enhance outbreak control efforts.
2021年12月，对德国学童中出现的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）B.1.640.2变种疫情进行了调查，该变种可能源自喀麦隆。首例病例是一名成年人，他刚从刚果共和国为期三周的逗留返回，通过其子女将该变种引入学校环境，导致随后在学校内传播，并最终传播至医院病房。病毒样本的全基因组测序确定了B.1.640.1和B.1.640.2两个谱系。此次疫情凸显了新出现的SARS-CoV-2变种的不可预测性，并强调了早期检测和控制对于减少向高危人群传播的重要性。值得注意的是，在研究期间，废水监测检测到了该变种，这强化了基于废水的流行病学作为新型变种早期预警和控制的补充工具的作用。这些发现强调了及时开展研究和遵守检疫措施以加强疫情控制工作的迫切需求。
