Abstract
Background/ Aims: Understanding the epidemiological features and transmission dynamic during the initial phase of the COVID-19 epidemic provide valuable information for control and mitigation of the outbreak. Thus, this study focused on a cohort who represent early cases in Thi-Qar governorate for describing the early epidemiological features during the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. Subject & Methods: This case series study was conducted in AL-Hussien Teaching Hospital, Thi-Qar governorate, from 27, February to 8, May 2020. Patient's data were obtained from official records of the Public Health Department of ThiQar Health Directory. A descriptive and analytical statistic were used by the aid of SPSS, also household secondary attack rate was estimated. Results: The median age was 37 years (IQR:31,20-51), females were 57.2% and males were 42.8%. According to age groups, as a higher infection rate (30.61% %) was found in the age group (14-26), while only (4%) found old age groups(66-78,79-91). Only six patients(12.25%) had comorbidities. Clinically, majority(79.6%) of cases were mild and (18.4%) moderate while only (4%) were severe. The age and comorbidities had an effect on the severity of symptoms. Family transmission(80.43%) was the predominant dynamic of disease transmission. Three index cases in this cohort fulfill the criteria of super-spreader as collectively transmitted the disease to 79.6% individuals, the household secondary attack rates were 22%, 24%, and 17% respectively. Conclusion: Family transmission was the predominant dynamic of transmission which was the result of the presence of a super-spreader event in the early infected patients in the governorate.
Highlights
I n December 2019, a newly emerging respiratory viral disease, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has started in Wuhan, Hubie province, China. 1 The progressive global spread of the disease has led the WHO (World Health Organization) to announce it as a pandemic.[2]
In Thi-Qar province (375Km south of Baghdad), the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 27, the patient was 62 years old, an Iraqi student studying at Qum University recently had returned from Qum-Iran.[4]
This study focused on a specialized cohort who represent the first confirmed cases in the Thi-Qar governorate to provide an opportunity for describing the early epidemiological features during the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak including; transmission dynamic, clinical severity, course of disease in the Thi-Qar governorate
Summary
I n December 2019, a newly emerging respiratory viral disease, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has started in Wuhan, Hubie province, China. 1 The progressive global spread of the disease has led the WHO (World Health Organization) to announce it as a pandemic.[2].
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