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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
A comparative study on epidemiological characteristics, transmissibility, and pathogenicity of three COVID-19
Chan Liu1, Jianhua Lu2, Peihua Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen City, People's Republic of China.
Objectives:
The Omicron BA.2 variant is probably the main epidemic strain worldwide at present. Comparing the epidemiological characteristics, transmissibility, and influencing factors of SARS-CoV-2, the results obtained in this paper will help to provide theoretical support for disease control.
Methods:
This study was a historical information analysis, using the R programming language and SPSS 24.0 for statistical analysis. The Geoda and Arc GIS were used for spatial autocorrelation analysis.
Results:
Local spatial autocorrelations of the incidence rate were observed in Delta and Omicron BA.1 outbreaks, whereas Omicron BA.2 outbreaks showed a random distribution in incidence rate. The time-dependent reproduction number of Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 were 3.21, 4.29, and 2.96, respectively, and correspondingly, the mean serial interval were 4.29 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37-8.21), 3.84 days (95% CI: 0-8.37), and 2.77 days (95% CI: 0-5.83). The asymptomatic infection rate of cases in Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 outbreaks were 21.71%, 6.25%, and 4.35%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The Omicron BA.2 variant had the greatest serial interval, transmissibility, and transmission speed, followed by BA.1, and then Delta. Compared with Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants, the Omicron BA.2 variant may be less pathogenic and more difficult to control than Omicron BA.1 and Delta.
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