BACKGROUND: The incidence of the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic in Africa seems to be different from that of the rest of the world, however its true extent is probably underestimated. Conducting population based sero-surveys during the epidemic has moreover been extremely challenging, driving our group and others to study blood donor samples. METHODS: We collected regional epidemiological COVID-19 surveillance data, and simultaneously monitored anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalences monthly throughout the epidemic in 5 major Region-associated Blood Transfusion Centres of Madagascar over a period of 9 months. FINDINGS: Soon after attaining the first epidemic peaks between May and August 2020, both crude and population-weighted test-performance-adjusted seroprevalences of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was in Malagasy blood donors rapidly increased up to over 40% positivity. INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest a high cumulative incidence of infection and seroconversion, which may have contributed to the observed deceleration of infection rates, but was not sufficient to prevent the second epidemic wave that struck Madagascar in Spring 2021. FUNDING: This project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development.
BACKGROUND: The incideene">nce of the 2020 n class="Disease">COVID-19 epidemic in Africa seems to be different from that of the rest of the world, however its true extent is probably underestimated. Conducting population based sero-surveys during the epidemic has moreover been extremely challenging, driving our group and others to study blood donor samples. METHODS: We collected regional epidemiological COVID-19 surveillance data, and simultaneously monitored anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalences monthly throughout the epidemic in 5 major Region-associated Blood Transfusion Centres of Madagascar over a period of 9 months. FINDINGS: Soon after attaining the first epidemic peaks between May and August 2020, both crude and population-weighted test-performance-adjusted seroprevalences of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was in Malagasy blood donors rapidly increased up to over 40% positivity. INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest a high cumulative incidence of infection and seroconversion, which may have contributed to the observed deceleration of infection rates, but was not sufficient to prevent the second epidemic wave that struck Madagascar in Spring 2021. FUNDING: This project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development.
Authors: Julian W Tang; Miguela A Caniza; Mike Dinn; Dominic E Dwyer; Jean-Michel Heraud; Lance C Jennings; Jen Kok; Kin On Kwok; Yuguo Li; Tze Ping Loh; Linsey C Marr; Eva Megumi Nara; Nelun Perera; Reiko Saito; Carlos Santillan-Salas; Sheena Sullivan; Matt Warner; Aripuanã Watanabe; Sabeen Khurshid Zaidi Journal: Interface Focus Date: 2022-02-11 Impact factor: 3.906
Authors: Fidisoa Rasambainarivo; Tanjona Ramiadantsoa; Antso Raherinandrasana; Santatra Randrianarisoa; Benjamin L Rice; Michelle V Evans; Benjamin Roche; Fidiniaina Mamy Randriatsarafara; Amy Wesolowski; Jessica C Metcalf Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-04-12 Impact factor: 4.135
Authors: Nicole S Struck; Eva Lorenz; Christina Deschermeier; Daniel Eibach; Jenny Kettenbeil; Wibke Loag; Steven A Brieger; Anna M Ginsbach; Christian Obirikorang; Oumou Maiga-Ascofare; Yaw Adu Sarkodie; Eric Ebenezer Amprofi Boham; Evans Asamoah Adu; Gracelyn Asare; Amos Amoako-Adusei; Alfred Yawson; Alexander Owusu Boakye; James Deke; Nana Safi Almoustapha; Louis Adu-Amoah; Ibrahim Kwaku Duah; Thierry A Ouedraogo; Valentin Boudo; Ben Rushton; Christa Ehmen; Daniela Fusco; Leonard Gunga; Dominik Benke; Yannick Höppner; Zaraniaina Tahiry Rasolojaona; Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina; Rivo A Rakotoarivelo; Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy; Boubacar Coulibaly; Ali Sié; Anthony Afum-Adjei Awuah; John H Amuasi; Aurélia Souares; Jürgen May Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-09-05 Impact factor: 4.135