Recurrent Dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 Through the Uruguayan–Brazilian Border

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.653986
• Publication Date: 2021-05-28T21:00:59Z
• Authors: Daiana Mir; Natalia Rego; Paola Cristina Re...; Fernando Tort; Tamara Fernández-...; Verónica Noya; Mariana Brandes; Tania Possi; Mailen Arleo; Natalia Reyes; Matías Victoria; Andres Lizasoain; Matías Castells; Leticia Maya; Matías Salvo; Tatiana Schäffer ...; Marilda Tereza Ma...; Letícia Garay Mar...; Cecilia Alonso; Yasser Vega; Cecilia Salazar; Ignacio Ferrés; Pablo Smircich; Jose Sotelo Silveira; Rafael Sebastián ...; Cecilia Mathó; Ighor Arantes; Luciana Appolinario; Ana Carolina Mend...; María José Beníte...; Camila Simoes; Martín Graña; Fernando Motta; Marilda Mendonça ...; Gonzalo Bello; Rodney Colina; Lucía Spangenberg
• Keywords: Pandemic; Coronavirus; Frontier

Uruguay is one of the few countries in Americas that successfully contained coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) epidemic during first half 2020. Nevertheless, intensive human mobility across dry border with Brazil a major challenge for public health authorities. We aimed to investigate origin severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains detected Uruguayan localities bordering as well measure viral flux this ∼1,100 km uninterrupted frontier. Using complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Uruguayan–Brazilian region and phylogeographic analyses, we inferred virus dissemination frequency between characterized local outbreak dynamics months (May–July) pandemic. Phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple introductions Brazilian lineages B.1.1.28 B.1.1.33 into at region. The most probable sources introduced were Southeast state Rio Grande do Sul. Some early May mid-July able locally spread originated outbreaks outside metropolitan responsible urban defined by set four 11 mutations (synonymous non-synonymous) respect ancestral viruses arose Brazil, supporting notion rapid genetic differentiation subpopulations spreading South America. Although borders have remained essentially closed non-Uruguayan citizens, inevitable flow people allowed repeated entry subsequent emergence localities. Implementation coordinated bi-national surveillance systems crucial achieve an efficient control kind highly permeable borderland regions around world.