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1.
Mbow M, Lell B, Jochems SP, Cisse B, Mboup S, Dewals BG, Jaye A, Dieye A, Yazdanbakhsh M, 2020. COVID-19 in Africa: Dampening the storm? Science 369: 624–626.
-
2.
Adams J, et al., 2021. The conundrum of low COVID-19 mortality burden in sub-Saharan Africa: Myth or reality? Glob Health Sci Pract 9: 433–443.
-
3.
Buguzi S, 2021. COVID-19: Counting the cost of denial in Tanzania. BMJ 373: n1052.
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4.
Salyer SJ, et al., 2021. The first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: A cross-sectional study. Lancet 397: 1265–1275.
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5.
Cabore JW, et al., 2022. COVID-19 in the 47 countries of the WHO African region: A modelling analysis of past trends and future patterns. Lancet Glob Health 10: e1099–e1114.
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6.
Markwalter CF, Ngasala B, Mowatt T, Basham C, Park Z, Loya M, Muller M, Plowe C, Nyunt M, Lin JT, 2021. Direct comparison of standard and ultrasensitive PCR for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum from dried blood spots in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Am J Trop Med Hyg 104: 1371–1374.
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7.
Premkumar L, et al., 2020. The receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein is an immunodominant and highly specific target of antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Sci Immunol 5: eabc8413.
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8.
Woodford J, et al., 2021. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 seroassay performance and optimization in a population with high background reactivity in Mali. J Infect Dis 224: 2001–2009.
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9.
Steinhardt LC, et al., 2021. Cross-reactivity of two SARS-CoV-2 serological assays in a setting where malaria is endemic. J Clin Microbiol 59: e0051421.
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10.
Manning J, et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity in prepandemic serum from rural malaria-infected persons, Cambodia. Emerg Infect Dis 28: 440–444.
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11.
Lyimo E, et al., 2022. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children and adolescents recruited in a malariometric survey in north-eastern Tanzania July 2021. BMC Infect Dis 22: 846.
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12.
Nyawale HA, Moremi N, Mohamed M, Njwalila J, Silago V, Krone M, Konje ET, Mirambo MM, Mshana SE, 2022. High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Mwanza, Northwestern Tanzania: A population-based survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 19: 11664.
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13.
Msemo OA, et al., 2023. High anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among unvaccinated mother–child pairs from a rural setting in north-eastern Tanzania during the second wave of COVID-19. IJID Reg 6: 48–57.
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14.
Willcox AC, Collins MH, Jadi R, Keeler C, Parr JB, Mumba D, Kashamuka M, Tshefu A, de Silva AM, Meshnick SR, 2018. Seroepidemiology of dengue, zika, and yellow fever viruses among children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Am J Trop Med Hyg 99: 756–763.
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15.
Lone SA, Ahmad A, 2020. COVID-19 pandemic—An African perspective. Emerg Microbes Infect 9: 1300–1308.
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16.
Bonguili NCB, Fritz M, Lenguiya LH, Mayengue PI, Koukouikila-Koussounda F, Dossou-Yovo LR, Badzi CN, Leroy EM, Niama FR, 2022. Early circulation of SARS-CoV-2, Congo, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 28: 878–880.
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17.
Alber D, et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody seroprevalence in routine surveillance patients, healthcare workers and general population in Kita region, Mali: An observational study 2020–2021. BMJ Open 12: e060367.
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18.
Ssuuna C, et al., 2022. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 seroprevalence in South-Central Uganda, during 2019–2021. BMC Infect Dis 22: 174.
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19.
Müller SA, Wood RR, Hanefeld J, El-Bcheraoui C, 2022. Seroprevalence and risk factors of COVID-19 in healthcare workers from 11 African countries: A scoping review and appraisal of existing evidence. Health Policy Plan 37: 505–513.
-
20.
Usuf E, Roca A, 2021. Seroprevalence surveys in sub-Saharan Africa: What do they tell us? Lancet Glob Health 9: e724–e725.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
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| Abstract Views | 280 | 280 | 109 |
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Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Rural Tanzania During the First 6 Months of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic
Srijana B. Chhetri
srijanac@med.unc.edu
Srijana B. Chhetri
Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;
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Daniel Nance
Daniel Nance
Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;
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Mwajabu Loya
Mwajabu Loya
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
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Caleb Cornaby
Caleb Cornaby
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Alena J. Markmann
Alena J. Markmann
Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;
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John L. Schmitz
John L. Schmitz
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Jessica T. Lin
Jessica T. Lin
Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;
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Billy Ngasala
Billy Ngasala
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
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ABSTRACT.
In the first 6 months of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, limited testing clouded understanding of the extent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in Africa. In particular, Tanzania halted all testing and reporting of SARS-CoV-2 cases after May 2020, not resuming until June 2021. In July–August 2020, we performed a seroprevalence survey in rural Bagamoyo district, 40 km outside Dar es Salaam. Among 347 asymptomatic children and adults, 64/347 (18.0%) demonstrated seroreactivity to SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain by ELISA. Given significant antibody cross-reactivity in malaria-endemic regions, seropositivity was additionally confirmed via a multitarget Luminex immunoassay. Thirty-seven, or 58% of initially seroreactive persons, were Luminex positive, leading to an estimated SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 10.7% (37/347, 95% CI 7.6–14.4%). Working in health care appeared to be associated with seropositivity. Reporting of viral symptoms or health care–seeking behavior in the previous 3 months was not more frequent in seropositive individuals.
Author Notes
Financial support: This work was supported by funds and charitable contributions from the University of North Carolina COVID-19 Response Fund/Health Foundation; the
Disclosure: The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, or interpretation.
Authors’ contributions: J. T. Lin and B. Ngasala conceptualized and designed the study. M. Loya led sample and data collection. S. B. Chhetri and D. Nance performed experiments and statistical analyses. C. Cornaby, A. J. Markmann, J. L. Schmitz, and J. T. Lin provided technical guidance and contributed to data interpretation. J. T. Lin, S. B. Chhetri, and D. Nance wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.
Current contact information: Srijana B. Chhetri, Daniel Nance, Alena J. Markmann, and Jessica T. Lin, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, E-mails: srijanac@med.unc.edu, daniel.j.nance@medstar.net, alena.markmann@unchealth.unc.edu, and jessica_lin@med.unc.edu. Mwajabu Loya and Billy Ngasala, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, E-mails: loyamwajabu51@gmail.com and bngasala70@yahoo.co.uk. Caleb Cornaby and John L. Schmitz, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC, E-mails: cornaby@usc.edu and john.schmitz@unchealth.unc.edu.
ProCite
RefWorks
Reference Manager
BibTeX
Zotero
EndNote
-
1.
Mbow M, Lell B, Jochems SP, Cisse B, Mboup S, Dewals BG, Jaye A, Dieye A, Yazdanbakhsh M, 2020. COVID-19 in Africa: Dampening the storm? Science 369: 624–626.
-
2.
Adams J, et al., 2021. The conundrum of low COVID-19 mortality burden in sub-Saharan Africa: Myth or reality? Glob Health Sci Pract 9: 433–443.
-
3.
Buguzi S, 2021. COVID-19: Counting the cost of denial in Tanzania. BMJ 373: n1052.
-
4.
Salyer SJ, et al., 2021. The first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: A cross-sectional study. Lancet 397: 1265–1275.
-
5.
Cabore JW, et al., 2022. COVID-19 in the 47 countries of the WHO African region: A modelling analysis of past trends and future patterns. Lancet Glob Health 10: e1099–e1114.
-
6.
Markwalter CF, Ngasala B, Mowatt T, Basham C, Park Z, Loya M, Muller M, Plowe C, Nyunt M, Lin JT, 2021. Direct comparison of standard and ultrasensitive PCR for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum from dried blood spots in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Am J Trop Med Hyg 104: 1371–1374.
-
7.
Premkumar L, et al., 2020. The receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein is an immunodominant and highly specific target of antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Sci Immunol 5: eabc8413.
-
8.
Woodford J, et al., 2021. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 seroassay performance and optimization in a population with high background reactivity in Mali. J Infect Dis 224: 2001–2009.
-
9.
Steinhardt LC, et al., 2021. Cross-reactivity of two SARS-CoV-2 serological assays in a setting where malaria is endemic. J Clin Microbiol 59: e0051421.
-
10.
Manning J, et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity in prepandemic serum from rural malaria-infected persons, Cambodia. Emerg Infect Dis 28: 440–444.
-
11.
Lyimo E, et al., 2022. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children and adolescents recruited in a malariometric survey in north-eastern Tanzania July 2021. BMC Infect Dis 22: 846.
-
12.
Nyawale HA, Moremi N, Mohamed M, Njwalila J, Silago V, Krone M, Konje ET, Mirambo MM, Mshana SE, 2022. High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Mwanza, Northwestern Tanzania: A population-based survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 19: 11664.
-
13.
Msemo OA, et al., 2023. High anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among unvaccinated mother–child pairs from a rural setting in north-eastern Tanzania during the second wave of COVID-19. IJID Reg 6: 48–57.
-
14.
Willcox AC, Collins MH, Jadi R, Keeler C, Parr JB, Mumba D, Kashamuka M, Tshefu A, de Silva AM, Meshnick SR, 2018. Seroepidemiology of dengue, zika, and yellow fever viruses among children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Am J Trop Med Hyg 99: 756–763.
-
15.
Lone SA, Ahmad A, 2020. COVID-19 pandemic—An African perspective. Emerg Microbes Infect 9: 1300–1308.
-
16.
Bonguili NCB, Fritz M, Lenguiya LH, Mayengue PI, Koukouikila-Koussounda F, Dossou-Yovo LR, Badzi CN, Leroy EM, Niama FR, 2022. Early circulation of SARS-CoV-2, Congo, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 28: 878–880.
-
17.
Alber D, et al., 2022. SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody seroprevalence in routine surveillance patients, healthcare workers and general population in Kita region, Mali: An observational study 2020–2021. BMJ Open 12: e060367.
-
18.
Ssuuna C, et al., 2022. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 seroprevalence in South-Central Uganda, during 2019–2021. BMC Infect Dis 22: 174.
-
19.
Müller SA, Wood RR, Hanefeld J, El-Bcheraoui C, 2022. Seroprevalence and risk factors of COVID-19 in healthcare workers from 11 African countries: A scoping review and appraisal of existing evidence. Health Policy Plan 37: 505–513.
-
20.
Usuf E, Roca A, 2021. Seroprevalence surveys in sub-Saharan Africa: What do they tell us? Lancet Glob Health 9: e724–e725.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 280 | 280 | 109 |
| Full Text Views | 23 | 23 | 17 |
| PDF Downloads | 28 | 28 | 18 |