In this rapid communication, the authors present a global analysis of the spread of recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants and estimate changes in effective reproduction numbers at country-specific level using sequence data from the Global Initiative On Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). Nearly all investigated countries demonstrated rapid replacement of previously circulating lineages by the World Health Organization-designated variants of concern, with estimated transmissibility increases of 29% (95% CI: 24–33), 25% (95% CI: 20–30), 38% (95% CI: 29–48) and 97% (95% CI: 76–117), respectively, for B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1 and B.1.617.2.
Campbell Finlay, Archer Brett, Laurenson-Schafer Henry, Jinnai Yuka, Konings Franck, Batra Neale, Pavlin Boris, Vandemaele Katelijn, Van Kerkhove Maria D, Jombart Thibaut, Morgan Oliver, le Polain de Waroux Olivier. Increased transmissibility and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern as at June 2021. Euro Surveill. 2021;26(24):pii=2100509. https://doi.org/10.2807/15607917.ES.2021.26.24.2100509