Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Sci Afr. 2021 July 1; Volume 12; e00802.; DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00802
Fai KN, Corine TM, Bebell LM, Mbroingong AB, Nguimbis EBPT, et al.
Sci Afr. 2021 July 1; Volume 12; e00802.; DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00802
Official case counts suggest Africa has not seen the expected burden of COVID-19 as predicted by international health agencies, and the proportion of asymptomatic patients, disease severity, and mortality burden differ significantly in Africa from what has been observed elsewhere. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 was extremely limited early in the pandemic and likely led to under-reporting of cases leaving important gaps in our understanding of transmission and disease characteristics in the African context. SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence and serologic response data could help quantify the burden of COVID-19 disease in Africa to address this knowledge gap and guide future outbreak response, adapted to the local context. However, such data are widely lacking in Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence survey among 1,192 individuals seeking COVID-19 screening and testing in central Cameroon using the Innovita antibody-based rapid diagnostic. Overall immunoglobulin prevalence was 32%, IgM prevalence was 20%, and IgG prevalence was 24%. IgM positivity gradually increased, peaking around symptom day 20. IgG positivity was similar, gradually increasing over the first 10 days of symptoms, then increasing rapidly to 30 days and beyond. These findings highlight the importance of diagnostic testing and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Cameroon, which likely resulted in artificially low case counts. Rapid antibody tests are a useful diagnostic modality for seroprevalence surveys and infection diagnosis starting 5-7 days after symptom onset. These results represent the first step towards better understanding the SARS-CoV-2 immunological response in African populations.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Sci Rep. 2023 December 8; Volume 13 (Issue 1); 21654.; DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-48773-3
Fokam J, Essomba RG, Njouom R, Okomo MCA, Eyangoh S, et al.
Sci Rep. 2023 December 8; Volume 13 (Issue 1); 21654.; DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-48773-3
While the SARS-CoV-2 dynamic has been described globally, there is a lack of data from Sub-Saharan Africa. We herein report the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages from March 2020 to March 2022 in Cameroon. Of the 760 whole-genome sequences successfully generated by the national genomic surveillance network, 74% were viral sub-lineages of origin and non-variants of concern, 15% Delta, 6% Omicron, 3% Alpha and 2% Beta variants. The pandemic was driven by SARS-CoV-2 lineages of origin in wave 1 (16 weeks, 2.3% CFR), the Alpha and Beta variants in wave 2 (21 weeks, 1.6% CFR), Delta variants in wave 3 (11 weeks, 2.0% CFR), and omicron variants in wave 4 (8 weeks, 0.73% CFR), with a declining trend over time (p = 0.01208). Even though SARS-CoV-2 heterogeneity did not seemingly contribute to the breadth of transmission, the viral lineages of origin and especially the Delta variants appeared as drivers of COVID-19 severity in Cameroon.
Conference Material > Poster
Eyong J, Fai KN, Nikolay B, Gignoux EM, Nsaibirini R, et al.
Epicentre Scientific Day 2024. 2024 May 23
Français
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Sci Afr. 2023 October 4; Online ahead of print; e01925.; DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01925
Eyong J, Fai KN, Nikolay B, Gignoux EM, Nsaibirini R, et al.
Sci Afr. 2023 October 4; Online ahead of print; e01925.; DOI:10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01925
BACKGROUND
Although the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa did not produce the expected catastrophe, the true impact of COVID-19 in the Cameroonian population was unclear. We therefore assessed the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and retrospective mortality in a representative sample of the general population in the 10 administrative regions of Cameroon more than one year after the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in these regions. We aimed to assess the extent of SARS-COV-2 infection and to detect potential increases in the crude mortality rate (CMR) during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic phase.
METHODS
We assessed retrospective mortality and seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the 10 capital cities of Cameroon using representative samples of the general population. The study included nested anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence surveys and retrospective mortality surveys and was conducted between 27 July 2021 and 31 August 2021. To further analyse crude mortality rates by age group and COVID wave, pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were stratified. Both laboratory-based assays (ELFA) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were used to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence.
RESULTS
The crude mortality rate (CMR) increased from 0.06 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pre-pandemic) to 0.17 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pandemic). The increase in CMR was more pronounced in people aged 20-35 years (pre-pandemic 0.02 deaths per 10 000 persons per day; pandemic 0.06 deaths per 10 000 persons per day). The estimated seroprevalence among unvaccinated persons was 9.5% (RDT) and 15.4% (laboratory-based).
CONCLUSION
The seroprevalence results showed that cases were significantly underdetected by the national surveillance systems.
Although the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa did not produce the expected catastrophe, the true impact of COVID-19 in the Cameroonian population was unclear. We therefore assessed the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and retrospective mortality in a representative sample of the general population in the 10 administrative regions of Cameroon more than one year after the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in these regions. We aimed to assess the extent of SARS-COV-2 infection and to detect potential increases in the crude mortality rate (CMR) during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic phase.
METHODS
We assessed retrospective mortality and seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the 10 capital cities of Cameroon using representative samples of the general population. The study included nested anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence surveys and retrospective mortality surveys and was conducted between 27 July 2021 and 31 August 2021. To further analyse crude mortality rates by age group and COVID wave, pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were stratified. Both laboratory-based assays (ELFA) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were used to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence.
RESULTS
The crude mortality rate (CMR) increased from 0.06 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pre-pandemic) to 0.17 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pandemic). The increase in CMR was more pronounced in people aged 20-35 years (pre-pandemic 0.02 deaths per 10 000 persons per day; pandemic 0.06 deaths per 10 000 persons per day). The estimated seroprevalence among unvaccinated persons was 9.5% (RDT) and 15.4% (laboratory-based).
CONCLUSION
The seroprevalence results showed that cases were significantly underdetected by the national surveillance systems.
Other > Pre-Print
Res Sq. 2021 February 2; DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-156679/v1
Buri D, Njuwa FK, Matchim L, Akendji B, Eteki L, et al.
Res Sq. 2021 February 2; DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-156679/v1
BACKGROUND
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a detectable serological immune response even though extent of its protection is still not yet well known. We report long duration and resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19.
METHODS
We included a cohort of 99 participants from our non-blinded non-randomized evaluation of COVID-19 tests in Cameroon. Demographic and clinical information was collected from participants including self-reported age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Qualitative data was described as proportions while quantitative data was described with means and accompanying ranges.
RESULTS
Duration of PCR for SARS-CoV-2 positivity was found to range from 4 – 81 days, with mean duration of 32.8 days in patients with PCR-positive. We also identified 4 participants who also had SARS-CoV-2 resurgence within a three-month period.
CONCLUSION
These observations raise questions on clinical decision to release COVID-19 cases from isolation after 14 days.
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a detectable serological immune response even though extent of its protection is still not yet well known. We report long duration and resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19.
METHODS
We included a cohort of 99 participants from our non-blinded non-randomized evaluation of COVID-19 tests in Cameroon. Demographic and clinical information was collected from participants including self-reported age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Qualitative data was described as proportions while quantitative data was described with means and accompanying ranges.
RESULTS
Duration of PCR for SARS-CoV-2 positivity was found to range from 4 – 81 days, with mean duration of 32.8 days in patients with PCR-positive. We also identified 4 participants who also had SARS-CoV-2 resurgence within a three-month period.
CONCLUSION
These observations raise questions on clinical decision to release COVID-19 cases from isolation after 14 days.
Journal Article > LetterFull Text
Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 October 1; Volume 7 (Issue 10); e62-e63.; DOI:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30390-4
Mviena JLM, Fanne M, Gondo R, Mwamelo AJ, Esso L, et al.
Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 October 1; Volume 7 (Issue 10); e62-e63.; DOI:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30390-4