1. Temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Kenya.
- Author
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Adetifa, Ifedayo M. O., Uyoga, Sophie, Gitonga, John N., Mugo, Daisy, Otiende, Mark, Nyagwange, James, Karanja, Henry K., Tuju, James, Wanjiku, Perpetual, Aman, Rashid, Mwangangi, Mercy, Amoth, Patrick, Kasera, Kadondi, Ng'ang'a, Wangari, Rombo, Charles, Yegon, Christine, Kithi, Khamisi, Odhiambo, Elizabeth, Rotich, Thomas, and Orgut, Irene
- Subjects
COVID-19 pandemic ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,SEROPREVALENCE ,BLOOD donors - Abstract
Observed SARS-CoV-2 infections and deaths are low in tropical Africa raising questions about the extent of transmission. We measured SARS-CoV-2 IgG by ELISA in 9,922 blood donors across Kenya and adjusted for sampling bias and test performance. By 1st September 2020, 577 COVID-19 deaths were observed nationwide and seroprevalence was 9.1% (95%CI 7.6-10.8%). Seroprevalence in Nairobi was 22.7% (18.0-27.7%). Although most people remained susceptible, SARS-CoV-2 had spread widely in Kenya with apparently low associated mortality. The reported burden of SARS-CoV-2 has been relatively low in tropical Africa compared to Europe and the Americas, but estimating true infection rates is challenging. Here, the authors screen blood donors in Kenya for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and describe spatiotemporal seroprevalence dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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