Abstract
BackgroundIn December 2019, the COVID-19 outbreak began in China and quickly spread throughout the world and was reclassified as a pandemic in March 2020. The first case of COVID-19 was declared in Togo on March 5. Two months later, few data were available to describe the circulation of the new coronavirus in the country.ObjectiveThis survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk populations in Lomé.Materials and methodsFrom April 23, 2020, to May 8, 2020, we recruited a sample of participants from five sectors: health care, air transport, police, road transport and informal. We collected oropharyngeal swabs for direct detection through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and blood for antibody detection by serological tests. The overall prevalence (current and past) of infection was defined by positivity for both tests.ResultsA total of 955 participants with a median age of 36 (IQR 32–43) were included, and 71.6% (n = 684) were men. Approximately 22.1% (n = 212) were from the air transport sector, 20.5% (n = 196) were from the police sector, and 38.7% (n = 370) were from the health sector. Seven participants (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.3–1.6%) had a positive rRT-PCR test result at the time of recruitment, and nine (0.9%, 95% CI: 0.4–1.8%) were seropositive for IgM or IgG against SARS-CoV-2. We found an overall prevalence of 1.6% (n = 15), 95% CI: 0.9–2.6%.ConclusionThe prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among high-risk populations in Lomé was relatively low and could be explained by the various measures taken by the Togolese government. Therefore, we recommend targeted screening.
Highlights
In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia (COVID-19) due to a new coronavirus first named 2019-nCoV, officially SARS-CoV-2, occurred in China [1]
We found an overall prevalence of 1.6% (n = 15), 95% 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9–2.6%
The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among high-risk populations in Lomewas relatively low and could be explained by the various measures taken by the Togolese government
Summary
In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia (COVID-19) due to a new coronavirus first named 2019-nCoV, officially SARS-CoV-2, occurred in China [1]. In less than five months, this outbreak had spread rapidly to every continent (except Antarctica) with more than 3.7 million people infected and more than 257,000 deaths recorded as of May 8, 2020, in 214 countries and territories [2]. The insufficient diagnostic capacity of countries and the high proportion of asymptomatic cases may explain such an underestimation [6]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a mass screening strategy for all countries burdened by the epidemic with the hypothesis that [7] more tests performed would result in an easier tracking of the spread of the virus and a decrease in transmission [8]. In December 2019, the COVID-19 outbreak began in China and quickly spread throughout the world and was reclassified as a pandemic in March 2020. Few data were available to describe the circulation of the new coronavirus in the country
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
