New SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant with Spike Protein Mutation Y451H, Kilifi, Kenya, March-May 2023.
Mwanga MJ., Lambisia AW., Morobe JM., Murunga N., Moraa E., Ndwiga L., Cheruiyot R., Musyoki J., Mutunga M., Guzman-Rincon LM., Sande C., Mwangangi J., Bejon P., Ochola-Oyier LI., Nokes DJ., Agoti CN., Nyiro J., Githinji G.
We report a newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant FY.4 that has mutations Y451H in spike and P42L in open reading frame 3a proteins. FY.4 emergence coincided with increased SARS-CoV-2 cases in coastal Kenya during April-May 2023. Continued SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance is needed to identify new lineages to inform COVID-19 outbreak prevention.