CASE REPORT 97 Infect Dis Clin Microbiol 2021; 3(2): 97-99 Mert Ahmet Kuşkucu1 , Yeşim Tuyji Tok1 , Okan Kadir Nohut2 , Zarifa Abullayeva3 , Ebru Yücebağ1 , Füsun Can4 , Serap Şimşek Yavuz3 , Haluk Eraksoy3 , Kenan Midilli1 Corresponding Author: Yeşim Tuyji Tok E-mail: dr.yesimtok@gmail.com Received: May 3, 2021 Accepted: July 5, 2021 Published: August 31, 2021 Suggested citation: Kuşkusu MA, Tuyji-Tok Y, Nohut OK, Abullayeva Z, Yücebağ E, Can F, et al. First report of SARS- CoV-2 gamma variant in Turkey. Infect Dis Clin Microbiol 2021; 2: 97-99. DOI: 10.36519/idcm.2021.43 First Report of SARS-CoV-2 Gamma Variant in Turkey This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. ABSTRACT Keeping track of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) is crucial to inform public health efforts and limiting the ongoing pandemic. Here, we describe the frst detection of SARS- CoV-2 P.1 lineage in Turkey. The fact that new variants can be detected in every geography of the world indicates the need for more whole genome sequencing in order to better understand virus dynamics and take earlier action. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, P.1 lineage, Variant of Concern (VOC), mutations ¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey 2 Department of Medical Biochemistry, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey 3 Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, İstanbul University Çapa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey 4 Department of Medical Microbiology, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey INTRODUCTION A s viruses spread through a population, they mutate and change, leading to the evolution of slightly different forms or variants. SARS-CoV-2 has been mutat- ing ever since it was frst detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. While most of the mutations will not have a signifcant effect on the spread of the virus, some mutations or combinations of mutations may provide virus advantages such as in- creased transmissibility or the ability to evade the host immune response. In such cas- es, these variants are more risky for human health and are considered to be variants of concern (VOCs) (1). Currently, the detectable virus mutation rate is once or twice a month. The speed of virus mutation is related to the number of cases in the World; the more we bring down the case numbers, the slower the virus will mutate (2). As of March 2021, there are three variants accepted as VOC; the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.7- GR/501Y.V1), the Beta SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.351-GH/501Y.V2), the Gamma SARS- CoV-2 variant (P.1-GR/501Y.V3) (3). Although the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.7) has increased transmissibility compared to previously circulating variants, no increase in infection severity has so far been identifed. While the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.7) continues to cause more than a half of new COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the fo- cus has currently shifted to the potential for import of other new variants that also be