Fast surveillance response reveals the introduction of a new yellow fever virus sub-lineage in 2021, in Minas Gerais, Brazil

BACKGROUND In Brazil, the yellow fever virus (YFV) is maintained in a sylvatic cycle involving wild mosquitoes and non-human primates (NHPs). The virus is endemic to the Amazon region; however, waves of epidemic expansion reaching other Brazilian states sporadically occur, eventually causing spillovers to humans. OBJECTIVES To report a surveillance effort that led to the first confirmation of YFV in NHPs in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Southeast region, in 2021. METHODS A surveillance network was created, encompassing the technology of smartphone applications and coordinated actions of several research institutions and health services to monitor and investigate NHP epizootics. FINDINGS When alerts were spread through the network, samples from NHPs were collected and YFV infection confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and genome sequencing at an interval of only 10 days. Near-complete genomes were generated using the Nanopore MinION sequencer. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that viral genomes were related to the South American genotype I, clustering with a genome detected in the Amazon region (state of Pará) in 2017, named YFVPA/MG sub-lineage. Fast YFV confirmation potentialised vaccination campaigns. MAIN CONCLUSIONS A new YFV introduction was detected in MG 6 years after the beginning of the major outbreak reported in the state (2015-2018). The YFV strain was not related to the sub-lineages previously reported in MG. No human cases have been reported, suggesting the importance of coordinated surveillance of NHPs using available technologies and supporting laboratories to ensure a quick response and implementation of contingency measures to avoid YFV spillover to humans.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Andrade,Miguel Souza, Campos,Fabrício Souza, Oliveira,Cirilo Henrique de, Oliveira,Ramon Silva, Campos,Aline Alves Scarpellini, Almeida,Marco Antônio Barreto de, Fonseca,Vagner de Souza, Simonini-Teixeira,Danilo, Sevá,Anaiá da Paixão, Temponi,Andrea Oliveira Dias, Magalhães,Fernando Maria, Chaves,Danielle Costa Capistrano, Pereira,Maira Alves, Lamounier,Ludmila Oliveira, Menezes,Givaldo Gomes de, Aquino-Teixeira,Sandy Micaele, Gonçalves-dos-Santos,Maria Eduarda, Bernal-Valle,Sofía, Müller,Nicolas Felipe Drumm, Cardoso,Jader da Cruz, Santos,Edmilson dos, Mares-Guia,Maria Angélica, Albuquerque,George Rêgo, Romano,Alessandro Pecego Martins, Franco,Ana Cláudia, Ribeiro,Bergmann Morais, Roehe,Paulo Michel, Abreu,Filipe Vieira Santos de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762022000101134
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