Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.575.2, Containing the E484K Mutation in the Spike Protein, in Pamplona, Spain, May to June 2021

With the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and the acquisition of novel mutations in existing lineages, the need to implement methods capable of monitoring viral dynamics arises. We report the emergence and spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant within the B.1.575 lineage, containing the E484K mutation in the spike protein (named B.1.575.2), in a region in northern Spain in May and June 2021. SARS-CoV-2-positive samples with cycle threshold values of <= 30 were selected to screen for presumptive variants using the TaqPath coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reverse transcription (RT)-PCR kit and the TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 mutation panel. Confirmation of variants was performed by whole-genome sequencing. Of the 200 samples belonging to the B.1.575 lineage, 194 (97%) corresponded to the B.1.575.2 sublineage, which was related to the presence of the E484K mutation. Of 197 cases registered in the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) EpiCoV database as lineage B.1.575.2, 194 (99.5%) were identified in Pamplona, Spain. This report emphasizes the importance of complementing surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 with sequencing for the rapid control of emerging viral variants.