Shorter serial intervals in SARS-CoV-2 cases with Omicron BA.1 variant compared with Delta variant, the Netherlands, 13 to 26 December 2021

Backer, J.A.; Eggink, D.; Andeweg, S.P.; Veldhuizen, I.K.; Maarseveen, N. van; Vermaas, K.; ... ; Wallinga, J. (2022)

Article / Letter to editor

The SARS- CoV-2 Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant because of higher transmissibility, immune evasion or shorter serial interval. Using S gene target failure (SGTF) as indication for Omicron BA.1, we identified 908 SGTF and 1,621 non-SGTF serial intervals in the same period. Within households, the mean serial interval for SGTF cases was 0.2-0.6 days shorter than for non-SGTF cases. This suggests that the growth advantage of Omicron is partly due to a shorter serial interval.

• All authors: Backer, J.A.; Eggink, D.; Andeweg, S.P.; Veldhuizen, I.K.; Maarseveen, N. van; Vermaas, K.; Vlaemynck, B.; Schepers, R.; Hof, S. van den; Reusken, C.B.E.M.; Wallinga, J.
• Date: 2022-02-10
• Journal: Eurosurveillance: Europe's journal on infectious disease surveillance, epidemiology, prevention and control
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• DOI: doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.6.2200042
• Link: https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.6....