Surging COVID-19 in Bangladesh driven by B.1.351 variant

A dramatic resurgence of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Bangladesh in March 2021 coincided with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 (501Y.V2) variant of concern rapidly becoming the dominant circulating variant. Concurrently, increasing numbers of reinfections have been detected and the effective Reproductive number, Rt, has doubled, despite high levels of prior infection in Dhaka city. These data support the prediction that acquired immunity from past infection provides reduced protection against B.1.351, and highlights the major public health concern posed by immune escape variants, especially in populations where vaccination coverage remains low.