Virological.org preliminary genetic analysis: 5 cluster sequences (2 Johannesburg, 2 Netherlands, 1 Swiss) point to a single zoonotic spillover - no new variant, no Gn/Gc spike changes

Pathoplexus team preliminary analysis on Virological.org (May 13 2026): 'The overall high level of genetic similarity - with a maximum of one detected SNP per individual - strongly suggests that the outbreak most likely originated from a single zoonotic spillover event, or a very limited number of closely related spillover events.' 'The limited and consistent variation observed in the L segment is interpreted as true viral mutations rather than methodological artifact. Taken together, these findings support a scenario of initial zoonotic introduction followed by subsequent human-to-human transmission during the outbreak.' Five passenger sequences analysed: two from Johannesburg, two from the Netherlands, and one from the Swiss patient (case 7, who disembarked April 22 at St Helena and flew back via South Africa and Qatar). A sixth-case genome is pending submission. The multi-national outbreak investigation convened the participating laboratories early (South Africa, Senegal, Switzerland, Netherlands) to standardise sequencing platforms, bioinformatic pipelines, and parameter settings. The finding affirmatively closes yesterday's mutation uncertainty - the cluster virus is a typical naturally-circulating ANDV lineage from the Chile/Argentina reservoir, not a highly divergent or newly-emerged variant.

Cases

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Deaths

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Author

Virological.org (Pathoplexus team)

Disease

hantavirus