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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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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.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 155 | 155 | 155 |
| Full Text Views | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| PDF Downloads | 9 | 9 | 9 |