Ebola Virus Epidemiology and Evolution in Nigeria

Folarin, Onikepe A.; Ehichioya, Deborah; Schaffner, Stephen F.; Winnicki, Sarah M.; Wohl, Shirlee; Eromon, Philomena; West, Kendra L.; Gladden-Young, Adrianne; Oyejide, Nicholas E.; Matranga, Christian B.; Deme, Awa Bineta; James, Ayorinde; Tomkins-Tinch, Christopher; Onyewurunwa, Kenneth; Ladner, Jason T.; Palacios, Gustavo; Nosamiefan, Iguosadolo; Andersen, Kristian G.; Omilabu, Sunday; Park, Daniel J.; Yozwiak, Nathan L.; Nasidi, Abdusallam; Garry, Robert F.; Tomori, Oyewale; Sabeti, Pardis C.; Happi, Christian T.

The EVD outbreak in Nigeria is unique because both genetic and contact tracing data are available. The complete transmission chain could be reconstructed with considerable confidence, and detailed clinical records were available for most patients. Viral sequencing data and sampling dates can be used to estimate general transmission patterns between patients and regions, and are used in this case to confirm and inform the transmission chain suggested by contact tracing. Comparing the 2 methods highlights the strengths of each, and the importance of both contact tracing and genomic sequencing during an outbreak.