AUTHOR=Salazar Cecilia , Costabile Alicia , Ferrés Ignacio , Perbolianachis Paula , Pereira-Gómez Marianoel , Simón Diego , Galiana Antonio , Pi Beatriz , Antelo Virginia , García Rosario , Moreno Pilar , Moratorio Gonzalo , Iraola Gregorio 

TITLE=Case Report: Early Transcontinental Import of SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern 202012/01 (B.1.1.7) From Europe to Uruguay

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Virology

VOLUME=1

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virology/articles/10.3389/fviro.2021.685618

DOI=10.3389/fviro.2021.685618

ISSN=2673-818X

ABSTRACT=<p>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 causes a more transmissible and apparently more severe disease. We report its early introduction from Europe to South America from a traveler who arrived in Uruguay from the United Kingdom, even before B.1.1.7 was recognized as a variant of concern. This highlights the risk of introduction of SARS-CoV-2 variants despite strict contingency protocols and underscores the need of improving real-time surveillance worldwide.</p>