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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy (January 17th and January 31st 2022 ISS Flash Surveys)

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Italy (adapted from the ISS Flash Surveys of January 17th and January 31st 2022)

Published: 18 February 2022

The I-Co-Gen platform developed by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), and released in April 2021, is currently the most up to date and reliable system for the collection and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing data in Italy. Based on the data processed through I-Co-Gen, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), supported by the Bruno Kessler Foundation and in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Health, the Regional administrations and the Autonomous Provinces (PPAA), have launched an ongoing and coordinated effort to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy. Results are released periodically in the form of brief reports (further details here, Italian only).
This highlight provides a brief overview of the main results from the most recent reports (data from January 17th and January 31st 2022). Data from the previous report (data from January 3rd 2022) are also included for the sake of the comparison.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy (January 17th and January 31st 2022 ISS Flash Surveys)
The table reports the prevalence of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variants of Concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy. Additional information concerning the nomenclature and features of these variants can be found here, in a paper by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Prevalence data are stratified by Region/Autonomous Province, the total number of genomic sequences included in the analysis is reported as well. Aggregated data are also reported to present an overview of the current situation in Italy.
Matched data from the previous report (January 3rd 2022) are also included.

According to the January 17th and January 31st 2022 Flash Surveys by ISS, the Omicron variant (lineage B.1.1.529 and derivative lineages BA.n) is the most prevalent variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy. The prevalence of Omicron variant, in fact, increased from 80,75%, on January 3rd 2022, to 95,8% on January 17th and, finally, to 99,1% on January 31st.
At the same time the prevalence of the Delta variant (lineage B.1.617.2 and derivative lineages AY.n) in Italy dropped from 19,22% (Flash Survey from January 3rd 2022) to 4,2% on January 17th 2022 and, finally, it reached a value of 0,9% (January 31st 2022).

To access complete information about the data included in the report, including the methods applied and the technical limitations of the survey, please refer to the complete reports as available on the ISS website at the following links (italian only):

The previous report is available at the following link (italian only):

Source: ISS (prevalence data)