Thread by @WHO

More than 1,750 experts from 124 countries - convened by WHO - discussed critical knowledge gaps and research priorities for emerging variants of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes #COVID19

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Scientists noted the importance of research to detect and understand early on the potential impact of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 on #COVID19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.

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It is normal for viruses to mutate, but the more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High levels of #COVID19 transmission mean that we should expect more variants to emerge.

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Of the significant SARS-CoV-2 variants reported so far, some are associated with increases in transmissibility but not disease severity. #COVID19

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Better surveillance and laboratory capacity to monitor strains of concern needs to be accompanied by prompt sharing of SARS-CoV-2 virus and serum samples via globally agreed mechanisms. #COVID19

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"So far 350,000 sequences of SARS-CoV-2 have been publicly shared, but most come from just a handful of countries. Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is critical for the world to have eyes and ears on changes to the virus."
-@mvankerkhove

#COVID19