Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Benadir Region, Somalia.

Mohamed Hussein Adam,Najib Isse Dirie,Abdiaziz S Mohamood,Ahmed A Mohamed,Jamal Hasan Mohamoud,Bashiru Garba

doi:10.3390/vaccines10020220

Mohamed Hussein Adam, Najib Isse Dirie + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10020220

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Abstract

Only little is known about the true extent of COVID-19 in Somalia. The study aims to assess the seroprevalence of the COVID-19 pandemics in the Benadir region using SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and estimate the number of inhabitants infected with SARS-CoV-2. Population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Benadir region (Mogadishu city). In the study, we enrolled 2500 Mogadishu city residents aged ≥18 years who did not receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The overall seroprevalence of IgG/IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 44.8%. The seropositivity in females (56.6%) was higher than in males (46.2%). The trend in seropositivity increased with age; however, the variation was only significant in the age group 38–57 with an odds ratio and p-value of 4.11 (1.475–11.47), p = 0.007. Families with >5 members (47.2%) were more likely to test positive than those with <5 members (37%). Participants who reported COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemics or who had contact with COVID-19 patients had significantly increased IgG prevalence. Participants with larger families, individuals working in the public sector, and students showed significant seropositive results. Therefore, precautionary measures should be heightened for individuals working in the public sector.

Highlights

Coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19)—a severe, acute respiratory syndrome caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and spread within months to most nations of the world [1,2]
Our main objective was to assess the seroprevalence of the COVID-19 pandemics in Somalia using SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and estimate the number of inhabitants infected with SARS-CoV-2
The overall seroprevalence of IgG/IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the region was 44.8%, where 1074 individuals were positive, and 1326 were negative

Summary

Introduction

Coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19)—a severe, acute respiratory syndrome caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and spread within months to most nations of the world [1,2]. By 16 August 2020, this pandemic disease was affecting people in 213 countries and territories, with about 21 million confirmed cases and around 800,000 deaths reported globally [1]. Africa recorded only 2.6% (6 million) of the 233,503,524 cases reported globally by the WHO. At the time of this writing, the Somali Ministry of Health reported 20,577 positive cases and a death toll of 1137 in the whole country [6]. This disparity is perhaps due to a lack of systematic testing of the population. Lack of awareness and absence of systematic testing has limited the efforts to control the spread of the disease and monitor its spread among the general population

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