Evolution and Spread of Ebola Virus in Liberia, 2014-2015.

Cell Host Microbe
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

The 2013-present Western African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is the largest ever recorded with >28,000 reported cases. Ebola virus (EBOV) genome sequencing has played an important role throughout this outbreak; however, relatively few sequences have been determined from patients in Liberia, the second worst-affected country. Here, we report 140 EBOV genome sequences from the second wave of the Liberian outbreak and analyze them in combination with 782 previously published sequences from throughout the Western African outbreak. While multiple early introductions of EBOV to Liberia are evident, the majority of Liberian EVD cases are consistent with a single introduction, followed by spread and diversification within the country. Movement of the virus within Liberia was widespread, and reintroductions from Liberia served as an important source for the continuation of the already ongoing EVD outbreak in Guinea. Overall, little evidence was found for incremental adaptation of EBOV to the human host.

Year of Publication
2015
Journal
Cell Host Microbe
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
659-69
Date Published
2015 Dec 09
ISSN
1934-6069
URL
DOI
10.1016/j.chom.2015.11.008
PubMed ID
26651942
PubMed Central ID
PMC4711363
Links
Grant list
095831 / Wellcome Trust / United Kingdom
HHSN272200700016I / AO / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
Z99 AI999999 / Intramural NIH HHS / United States
HHSN272200700016I / PHS HHS / United States