tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2023 Jan;29(1):89-97.
doi: 10.3201/eid2901.221009.
High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence after Second COVID-19 Wave (October 2020-April 2021), Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama, Gervais T Folefack, Marc K Yambayamba, Paul M Tshiminyi, Benito M Kazenza, John O Otshudiema, Noe Tondri Guinko, Moreau D Umba, Anastasie Mulumba, Lionel K Baketana, Patrick K Mukadi, Chris Smith, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Sheila Makiala-Mandanda
Abstract
Serologic surveys are important tools for estimating the true burden of COVID-19 in a given population. After the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a household-based survey conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, estimated >292 infections going undiagnosed for every laboratory-confirmed case. To ascertain the cumulative population exposure in Kinshasa after the second wave of COVID-19, we conducted a prospective population-based cross-sectional study using a highly sensitive and specific ELISA kit. The survey included 2,560 consenting persons from 585 households; 55% were female and 45% male. The overall population-weighted, test kit-adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 76.5% (95% CI 74.5%-78.5%). The seroprevalence was 4-fold higher than during the first wave, and positivity was associated with age, household average monthly income, and level of education. Evidence generated from this population-based survey can inform COVID-19 response, especially vaccination campaign strategies in the context of vaccine shortages and hesitancy.
Keywords: COVID-19; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Kinshasa; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; second wave; seroprevalence; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; vaccine-preventable diseases; viruses; zoonoses.
. 2023 Jan;29(1):89-97.
doi: 10.3201/eid2901.221009.
High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence after Second COVID-19 Wave (October 2020-April 2021), Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama, Gervais T Folefack, Marc K Yambayamba, Paul M Tshiminyi, Benito M Kazenza, John O Otshudiema, Noe Tondri Guinko, Moreau D Umba, Anastasie Mulumba, Lionel K Baketana, Patrick K Mukadi, Chris Smith, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Sheila Makiala-Mandanda
- PMID: 36573545
- DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.221009
Abstract
Serologic surveys are important tools for estimating the true burden of COVID-19 in a given population. After the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a household-based survey conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, estimated >292 infections going undiagnosed for every laboratory-confirmed case. To ascertain the cumulative population exposure in Kinshasa after the second wave of COVID-19, we conducted a prospective population-based cross-sectional study using a highly sensitive and specific ELISA kit. The survey included 2,560 consenting persons from 585 households; 55% were female and 45% male. The overall population-weighted, test kit-adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 76.5% (95% CI 74.5%-78.5%). The seroprevalence was 4-fold higher than during the first wave, and positivity was associated with age, household average monthly income, and level of education. Evidence generated from this population-based survey can inform COVID-19 response, especially vaccination campaign strategies in the context of vaccine shortages and hesitancy.
Keywords: COVID-19; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Kinshasa; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; second wave; seroprevalence; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; vaccine-preventable diseases; viruses; zoonoses.