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Ireland's coronavirus strains: Sequencing identifies one linked to Wuhan but most similar to European strains

Sequencing work will now focus on clusters in the community.

GENOME SEQUENCING WORK on Ireland’s coronavirus cases has found most strains appear to be similar to those spreading through Europe.

Now laboratory technicians at UCD are planning to use sequencing to examine clusters of infection in the community. According to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) there are now 118 clusters in the Republic of Ireland. 

Health officials have said that clusters here generally involve fewer than five people, but they are still a concern, particularly because 24 of these clusters were reported in nursing home settings. 

Viral genome sequencing is an analysis that helps researchers to learn more about the virus such as how it is mutating and how it spreads. It can also assist in the development of a vaccine.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Dr Cillian De Gascun, who is chair of the HSE’s coronavirus expert advisory group and director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory at UCD, said that as well as the ongoing testing of samples, the lab has been doing some sequencing work to learn about the strains of Covid-19 in Ireland.

“One of the initial cases that we looked at, the sequence was very similar to the reference strain in Wuhan in China,” he explained.

“But the majority of the other sequences that we’ve looked at have been more similar to European strains. Initially we were looking at those strains to see where the virus may have been imported from.

Initially we generated whole genomes of the virus and what we want to do now is take smaller segments, look at a larger proportion of the population and maybe see if we can do some work around transmission clusters or networks of transmission within the country. We haven’t done that work yet.

According to the latest figures yesterday evening, there are now 3,447 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Ireland and 85 people who had the virus have died. The median age of deaths in Ireland is 82. 

There have been some suggestions that the strain of this virus in countries like Italy and Spain is more aggressive and that this may be the more prevalent strain in Ireland, but De Gascun said it is “too early to say”.

“If you look at the number of cases around the world – 700,000 or thereabouts at this time – the number of sequences that have been shared through public networks is, I think, fewer than 1,000.

Viruses will diverge, we see that across the board, say with hepatitis C or HIV, there are subtypes or clades or genotypes, as we call them. This is a very new virus so we’re waiting to see how it will diverge and how it will settle.

“So, yes, it appears there are different sub types at this point in time, but we have no evidence to suggest one is more virulent than the other. I can’t say it won’t turn out to be the case, but certainly at this point in time we don’t have the evidence,” he said.

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    Mute Seamus Larkin
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:25 PM

    Terrible comments. We should withdraw our aid from this backward regime until it treats all peoples with human rights.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Could say the same about this country.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:56 PM

    @ Begrudgy: For all the criticism of this country, I believe we will be within the first 15 countries in the world to legalise gay marriage in 2015 as well as one of the first to legalise adoption by gay couples.

    That is most definitely a better record on gay rights than Nigeria’s.

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    Mute Marcus power
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:14 PM

    Ryan. ….I hope we can drop the inappropriate. … and dated moniker “gay ” and start just having adoption and marraige as rights in the societies that we live in as citizens. ..taxpayers and residents. …maybe I’m living in a fools paradise ????

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    Mute Donny White
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Considering there are more convicted rapists than open homosexuals in Nigeria, I would respectfully suggest the good doctor address the more systemic and evil of the two issues.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:24 PM

    Hi everyone,
    If you could be mindful and respectful while leaving comments on this article, it would be much appreciated. We have a comments policy that can be read here: http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/
    Any racist, homophobic or offensive comments will be deleted.
    Thanks in advance,
    Aoife

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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:35 PM

    You guys are overzealous with your moderation to the point of censorship.

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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:31 PM

    Whatever happened to freedom of speech? You might not like what they’re saying (and I certainly don’t!) but they do have the right to say it!

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    Mute Colm Durkan
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:37 PM

    No, you don’t have the right to publicly say that homosexuality is the same as paedophilia.

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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Why?

    I’m not saying I agree there exists such a link, but who are you to censor anyone else saying as they please?

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    Mute Buster Ó Briain
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:53 PM

    They can say what they want, and we have the right to criticise it.

    Having the right to say something doesn’t make it exempt from criticism.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:05 PM

    @ Wallace: I don’t see anyone seeking to stop the Ambassador’s right to free speech. Merely he is being attacked and criticised for making such an invalid, untrue and hurtful comparison.

    @ Everyone:

    Normally I am not a fan of his, but I think Noel Whelan summed it up pretty well at the weekend in his Irish Times article:

    “Many liberals seem to be afraid to let a conservative position be heard in the debate. Do they lack confidence in their own ability to counter it? It is worrying at this important moment, a year out from when the people will directly decide on the issue, that a pattern has already developed of seeking to edit out opposing views rather than confront and defeat them.”

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/readiness-to-hurl-the-word-homophobe-may-not-help-the-liberal-reform-agenda-1.1667387

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    Mute Garáiste Ó Churáinn-Seisean
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:07 PM

    Metro Eireann showed poor judgement giving this man an award . Perhaps they should have considered honouring that gay Kenyan writer Ken Binyavanga Wainaina who came out in the past few weeks in a country that being gay is illegal . Countries who have human rights issues whatever the discrimination should have sanctions placed on aid

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:16 PM

    That would be most countries worldwide so can’t see it working somehow.

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    Mute Sammy Sausages
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:49 PM

    I don’t like what he said but I’m not a fan of censorship either (or sending solicitor’s letters to gag people)….. I certainly don’t think this Governor should be in line for any type of an award with such an inhumane view of gay people.

    It’s easy to cater to populist opinions in your country, but it takes bravery and strength of character to say what is right.

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