Importation of SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to major COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan
Chih-Yen Lina b, Wen‐Hung Wangb c, Aspiro Nayim Urbinab, Sung‐Pin Tsenga, Po‐Liang Lub c, Yen‐Hsu Chenb c, Ming‐Lung Yud, Seng-Fan Wanga b e f✉
- aDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- bCenter for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- cDivision of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- dHepatobiliary Section, Department of Internal Medicine, and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- eDepartment of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan. Electronic address: wasf1234@kmu.edu.tw
- fDepartment of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 has recently become a pandemic affecting many countries worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the current status of COVID-19 in Taiwan and analyze the source of infection. METHODS: National data regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection were obtained from Taiwan. CDC at the end of April 2020. These data were subjected to analysis of the current status and correlation between indigenous and imported COVID-19 cases. A phylogenetic tree was created to analyze the phylogeny of Taiwanese SARS-CoV-2 isolates. RESULTS: The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan was detected on January 21, 2020. Epidemiological data indicate that by April 30, there were a total of 429 COVID-19 confirmed cases with the death rate of 1.3%. Most cases were identified as imported (79.9%; 343/429), with the majority originating from the United States of America (22.1%) and the United Kingdom (17.6%). Results from phylogenetic tree analyses indicate that the Taiwanese SARS-CoV-2 isolates were clustered with the SARS-CoV-2 isolates from other countries (bootstrap value 98%) and sub-clustered with bat SARS-like coronaviruses (bootstrap value 99%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the importation of SARS-CoV-2 infection was the primary risk-factor resulting in the COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan.
TL;DRCOVID-19 was introduced to Taiwan leading to an outbreak in late January, 2020, and SARS-CoV-2 isolates from Taiwan were identified to belong to the same phylogenetic cluster as other COVID-19 epidemic countries. (Semantic Scholar)