• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Sci Rep . The public health impact of COVID-19 variants of concern on the effectiveness of contact tracing in Vermont, United States

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Rep


. 2024 Aug 1;14(1):17848.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68634-x. The public health impact of COVID-19 variants of concern on the effectiveness of contact tracing in Vermont, United States

François M Castonguay[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Brian F Borah[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Seonghye Jeon[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Gabriel Rainisch[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Patsy Kelso[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bishwa B Adhikari[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Daniel J Daltry[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Leah S Fischer[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Bradford Greening Jr[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Emily B Kahn[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Gloria J Kang[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP], Martin I Meltzer[SUP] 6 7 [/SUP]



Affiliations
Abstract

Case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) are public health measures that aim to break the chain of pathogen transmission. Changes in viral characteristics of COVID-19 variants have likely affected the effectiveness of CICT programs. We estimated and compared the cases averted in Vermont when the original COVID-19 strain circulated (Nov. 25, 2020-Jan. 19, 2021) with two periods when the Delta strain dominated (Aug. 1-Sept. 25, 2021, and Sept. 26-Nov. 20, 2021). When the original strain circulated, we estimated that CICT prevented 7180 cases (55% reduction in disease burden), compared to 1437 (15% reduction) and 9970 cases (40% reduction) when the Delta strain circulated. Despite the Delta variant being more infectious and having a shorter latency period, CICT remained an effective tool to slow spread of COVID-19; while these viral characteristics did diminish CICT effectiveness, non-viral characteristics had a much greater impact on CICT effectiveness.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case investigation; Cases averted; Contact tracing; Modeling.

 
Back
Top Bottom