Community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 with B.1.1.7 lineage in Mumbai, India

Abstract

Abstract The B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant has been detected in Mumbai, India during February 2021. Subsequently, we retrieved 43 sequences from specimens of 51 COVID-19 cases from Mumbai. The sequence analysis revealed that the cases were mainly affected with Alpha variant which suggests its role in community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Mumbai, India.Over the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, multiple variants have emerged across the globe. During late December 2020, a new variant of concern (VOC) B.1.1.7 (Alpha) was identified in the United Kingdom which has spread to more than 135 countries in the world including Europe, Asia, USA.1 This variant has about 17 mutations, including N501Y, P681H, HV 69e70 deletion in the spike protein and various other mutations. It has been designated as variant of concern due to its high transmissibility, with estimates ranging from 40 to 80% higher transmissibility.2,3 During the first wave of pandemic in India, SARS-CoV-2 cases showed downward trend since September 2020; however it again started rising in March 2021 with the number of cases being double of last year. Government of India started the genomic surveillance of newly emerging SARS-CoV-2