“The Covid-19 pandemic in BRICS

Milestones, interventions, and molecular epidemiology”

Bibliographic Data

ID19591329
AuthorsStephanie van Wyk (0000-0002-2655-8518, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Monika Moir (0000-0003-1095-1910, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Anindita Banerjee (0000-0002-6328-8190, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, corresponding author), Georgii A Bazykin (0000-0003-2334-2751, Institute for Information Transmission Problems, corresponding author), Nidhan K Biswas (0000-0001-7960-3290, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, corresponding author), Nikita Sitharam (0000-0003-2618-674X, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Saumitra Das (0000-0002-0640-3586, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, corresponding author), Wentai Ma (0000-0003-1931-8687, Chinese Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), Arindam Maitra (0000-0002-0249-8856, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, corresponding author), Anup Mazumder (0000-0001-7915-5010, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, corresponding author), Wasim Abdool Karim (Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Alessandra Pavan Lamarca (0000-0001-7586-7280, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, corresponding author), Mingkun Li (0000-0001-8223-2718, Chinese Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), Elena Nabieva (0000-0002-4532-6085, Princeton University, corresponding author), Houriiyah Tegally (0000-0002-7102-8540, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), James Emmanuel San (0000-0002-5736-664X, University of KwaZulu-Natal, corresponding author), Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos (0000-0002-4632-2086, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, corresponding author), Joicymara S Xavier (0000-0002-4649-6270, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Eduan Wilkinson (0000-0002-2503-9441, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author), Tulio de Oliveira (0000-0002-3027-5254, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author)
EditorsSanjana Mukherjee (0000-0002-6039-9506)
Year2024
Volume4
Issue12
Pagese0003023
Publication date2024-12-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003023
PMID39705269
OpenAlexW4405634909
LanguageEN
References cited82

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) are a group of developing countries with shared economic, healthcare, and scientific interests. These countries navigate multiple syndemics, and the COVID-19 pandemic placed severe strain on already burdened BRICS’ healthcare systems, hampering effective pandemic interventions. Genomic surveillance and molecular epidemiology remain indispensable tools for facilitating informed pandemic intervention. To evaluate the combined manner in which the pandemic unfolded in BRICS countries, we reviewed the BRICS pandemic epidemiological and genomic milestones, which included the first reported cases and deaths, and pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented in these countries. To assess the development of genomic surveillance capacity and efficiency over the pandemic, we analyzed the turnaround time from sample collection to data availability and the technologies used for genomic analysis. This data provided information on the laboratory capacities that enable the detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlight their potential for monitoring other pathogens in ongoing public health efforts. Our analyses indicated that BRICS suffered >105.6M COVID-19 infections, resulting in >1.7M deaths. BRICS countries detected intricate genetic combinations of SARS-CoV-2 variants that fueled country-specific pandemic waves. BRICS’ genomic surveillance programs enabled the identification and characterization of the majority of globally circulating Variants of Concern (VOCs) and their descending lineages. Pandemic intervention strategies first implemented by BRICS countries included non-pharmaceutical interventions during the onset of the pandemic, such as nationwide lockdowns, quarantine procedures, the establishment of fever clinics, and mask mandates- which were emulated internationally. Vaccination rollout strategies complemented this, some representing the first of their kind. Improvements in BRICS sequencing and data generation turnaround time facilitated quicker detection of circulating and emerging variants, supported by investments in sequencing and bioinformatic infrastructure. Intra-BRICS cooperation contributed to the ongoing intervention in COVID-19 and other pandemics, enhancing collective capabilities in addressing these health challenges. The data generated continues to inform BRICS-centric pandemic intervention strategies and influences global health matters. The increased laboratory and bioinformatic capacity post-COVID-19 will support the detection of emerging pathogens

China · Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Global health · Health care · Pandemic · Pathology · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public health · Medicine · Nursing · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Epidemiology

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