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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in France: results from nationwide serological surveillance

Author

Listed:
  • Stéphane Le Vu

    (Santé publique France)

  • Gabrielle Jones

    (Santé publique France)

  • François Anna

    (Theravectys, Institut Pasteur)

  • Thierry Rose

    (INSERM 1221, Institut Pasteur)

  • Jean-Baptiste Richard

    (Santé publique France)

  • Sibylle Bernard-Stoecklin

    (Santé publique France)

  • Sophie Goyard

    (INSERM 1221, Institut Pasteur)

  • Caroline Demeret

    (University of Paris-Diderot, Institut Pasteur)

  • Olivier Helynck

    (Unit of Chemistry and Biocatalysis, UMR 3523 CNRS, Institut Pasteur)

  • Nicolas Escriou

    (Innovation Laboratory: Vaccines, Institut Pasteur)

  • Marion Gransagne

    (Innovation Laboratory: Vaccines, Institut Pasteur)

  • Stéphane Petres

    (Production and Purification of Recombinant Proteins Technological Platform, Institut Pasteur)

  • Corinne Robin

    (Cerba Healthcare Division, Cerba Xpert)

  • Virgile Monnet

    (Eurofins Biomnis Sample Library, Eurofins Biomnis)

  • Louise Perrin de Facci

    (ICAReB Biobanking Platform, Center for Translational Science, Institut Pasteur)

  • Marie-Noelle Ungeheuer

    (ICAReB Biobanking Platform, Center for Translational Science, Institut Pasteur)

  • Lucie Léon

    (Regional Office—French Caribbean, Santé publique France)

  • Yvonnick Guillois

    (Regional Office—Brittany, Santé publique France)

  • Laurent Filleul

    (Regional Office—Nouvelle Aquitaine, Santé publique France)

  • Pierre Charneau

    (Theravectys, Institut Pasteur)

  • Daniel Lévy-Bruhl

    (Santé publique France)

  • Sylvie van der Werf

    (University of Paris-Diderot, Institut Pasteur
    National Reference Center for Respiratory Infections Viruses Including Influenza, Institut Pasteur)

  • Harold Noel

    (Santé publique France)

Abstract

Assessment of the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections is critical for monitoring the course and extent of the COVID-19 epidemic. Here, we report estimated seroprevalence in the French population and the proportion of infected individuals who developed neutralising antibodies at three points throughout the first epidemic wave. Testing 11,000 residual specimens for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and neutralising antibodies, we find nationwide seroprevalence of 0.41% (95% CI: 0.05–0.88) mid-March, 4.14% (95% CI: 3.31–4.99) mid-April and 4.93% (95% CI: 4.02–5.89) mid-May 2020. Approximately 70% of seropositive individuals have detectable neutralising antibodies. Infection fatality rate is 0.84% (95% CI: 0.70–1.03) and increases exponentially with age. These results confirm that the nationwide lockdown substantially curbed transmission and that the vast majority of the French population remained susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 in May 2020. Our study shows the progression of the first epidemic wave and provides a framework to inform the ongoing public health response as viral transmission continues globally.

Suggested Citation

  • Stéphane Le Vu & Gabrielle Jones & François Anna & Thierry Rose & Jean-Baptiste Richard & Sibylle Bernard-Stoecklin & Sophie Goyard & Caroline Demeret & Olivier Helynck & Nicolas Escriou & Marion Gran, 2021. "Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in France: results from nationwide serological surveillance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23233-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23233-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Manuel Reiriz & Macarena Donoso-González & Benjamín Rodríguez-Expósito & Sara Uceda & Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Mental Health in Youth and Vulnerable Populations: An Extensive Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Brun, Martín & D'Ambrosio, Conchita & Ferrer-i-Carbonell, Ada & Ramos, Xavier, 2023. "After You. Cognition and Health-Distribution Preferences," IZA Discussion Papers 16126, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Zhencui Li & Pei Hu & Lin Qu & Mingda Yang & Ming Qiu & Chunyan Xie & Haiyi Yang & Jiadian Cao & Lina Yi & Zhe Liu & Lirong Zou & Huimin Lian & Huiling Zeng & Shaojian Xu & Pengwei Hu & Jiufeng Sun & , 2024. "Molecular epidemiology and population immunity of SARS-CoV-2 in Guangdong (2022–2023) following a pivotal shift in the pandemic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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