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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy (ISS Report n. 27 and December 13th 2022 ISS Flash Survey)

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Italy, according to the 27th genomic surveillance report and the Flash Survey of December 13th 2022 by ISS (data published by ISS on December 23rd and December 30th 2022)

Published: 11 January 2023

The I-Co-Gen platform by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) is the reference point for the collection and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing data in Italy. By periodic analysis of the data processed through I-Co-Gen, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), in collaboration with the Bruno Kessler Foundation and with the Italian Ministry of Health, the Regional administrations and the Autonomous Provinces (PPAA), have undertaken a coordinated effort to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy. Data 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 report (December 13th 2022). Data from the previous report (November 8th 2022) are also included for the sake of comparison.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy (ISS Report n. 27 and December 13th 2022 ISS Flash Survey)
The table reports the prevalence of the Omicron (B.1.1.529, derivative lineages and recombinant lineages) Variant of Concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy. Additional information concerning the nomenclature and genomic features of this and other variants can be found here, in a paper by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Data are aggregated by Region/Autonomous Province and the total number of genome sequences considered in the analysis is reported as well. Cumulative data are also reported to present an overview of the current situation in Italy.
Matched data from the previous report (November 8th 2022) are included.

According to data collected by ISS during the December 13th Flash Survey, the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529, its derivative lineages and recombinant lineages) is the only variant of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Italy and its prevalence at National level is 100,0%.
The BA.5 sublineage is the most widespread among Omicron sublineages. In fact, BA.5 prevalence equals to 90,6% (presenting a slight decrease with respect to the 91,53% prevalence observed in the November 8th update) and it is above 77,3% in all the Regions/PPAA. Moreover, as stated in Report n. 27, about 64,1% of sequences classified as BA.5 belong to the BQ.1.n family of Omicron sublineages, while sequences associated to the BF.7 sublineage represent the 9,6% of sequenced genomes (compared to 14,7% reported in Report n. 26).
The prevalence of the BA.2 sublineage is gradually increasing: from 3,98% in the previous update (data from November 8th 2022) to 6,1% in the most recent Survey (data from December 13th 2022). Moreover, a slight increase in the proportion of sequences assigned to the BA.2.75 sublineage family is observed. This sublineage is under international monitoring for its peculiar characteristics.
On the contrary, the prevalence of the BA.4 sublineage is still decreasing and it’s now equal to 0,3%.
Finally, 75,0% of the Omicron/Omicron recombinants belong to XBB and sublineages (according to Report n. 27) and reached a global prevalence of 3,0%.

Please refer to the report as provided on the ISS website at the following links (italian only) for a complete reference:

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

Source: ISS (prevalence data)