IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v12y2021i1d10.1038_s41467-021-25946-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and associated risk factors in an urban district in Cameroon

Author

Listed:
  • Kene Nwosu

    (University of Geneva)

  • Joseph Fokam

    (Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management
    University of Buea)

  • Franck Wanda

    (Centre International de Recherches, d’Enseignements, et de Soins (CIRES))

  • Lucien Mama

    (Health District of Cite Verte, Regional Delegation of Public Health)

  • Erol Orel

    (University of Geneva)

  • Nicolas Ray

    (University of Geneva
    Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva)

  • Jeanine Meke

    (Centre International de Recherches, d’Enseignements, et de Soins (CIRES))

  • Armel Tassegning

    (Centre International de Recherches, d’Enseignements, et de Soins (CIRES))

  • Desire Takou

    (Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management)

  • Eric Mimbe

    (Site de Coordination ANRS Cameroun, Hopital Central de Yaounde)

  • Beat Stoll

    (University of Geneva)

  • Josselin Guillebert

    (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH)

  • Eric Comte

    (University of Geneva
    Association de Soutien aux Centres de Recherches, d’Enseignements et de Soins (ASCRES))

  • Olivia Keiser

    (University of Geneva)

  • Laura Ciaffi

    (Site de Coordination ANRS Cameroun, Hopital Central de Yaounde
    Association de Soutien aux Centres de Recherches, d’Enseignements et de Soins (ASCRES))

Abstract

The extent of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in many African countries remains unclear, underlining the need for antibody sero-surveys to assess the cumulative attack rate. Here, we present the results of a cross-sectional sero-survey of a random sample of residents of a health district in Yaounde, Cameroon, conducted from October 14 to November 26, 2020. Among the 971 participants, the test-adjusted seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was 29·2% (95% CI 24·3–34·1). This is about 322 times greater than the 0.09% nationwide attack rate implied by COVID-19 case counts at the time. Men, obese individuals and those living in large households were significantly more likely to be seropositive, and the majority (64·2% [58·7–69·4]) of seropositive individuals reported no symptoms. Despite the high seroprevalence, most of the population had not been infected with SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the importance of continued measures to control viral spread and quick vaccine deployment to protect the vulnerable.

Suggested Citation

  • Kene Nwosu & Joseph Fokam & Franck Wanda & Lucien Mama & Erol Orel & Nicolas Ray & Jeanine Meke & Armel Tassegning & Desire Takou & Eric Mimbe & Beat Stoll & Josselin Guillebert & Eric Comte & Olivia , 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and associated risk factors in an urban district in Cameroon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25946-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25946-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25946-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-021-25946-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25946-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.