A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) is life‐threatening infectious disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that caused a global pandemic. SARS‐CoV‐2 has been widely transmitted throughout Ethiopia, with over 501,060 cases confirmed and 7574 deaths until November 2023. This study assesse...

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Main Authors: Solomon Yared, Tsegalem Abera, Seid Mohammed Ali, Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Abdulahi Hussen, Jan Hattendorf, Jakob Zinsstag, Rea Tschopp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.1148
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author Solomon Yared
Tsegalem Abera
Seid Mohammed Ali
Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed
Mohammed Ibrahim
Abdulahi Hussen
Jan Hattendorf
Jakob Zinsstag
Rea Tschopp
author_facet Solomon Yared
Tsegalem Abera
Seid Mohammed Ali
Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed
Mohammed Ibrahim
Abdulahi Hussen
Jan Hattendorf
Jakob Zinsstag
Rea Tschopp
author_sort Solomon Yared
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) is life‐threatening infectious disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that caused a global pandemic. SARS‐CoV‐2 has been widely transmitted throughout Ethiopia, with over 501,060 cases confirmed and 7574 deaths until November 2023. This study assessed for the first time the seroprevalence SARS‐CoV‐2 in the general population of the Somali Region during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods A cross‐sectional study design was conducted from May to June 2021 in 14 districts of Somali Region. Blood samples were collected in 820 participants in addition to administering a questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics and history of clinical symptoms of COVID‐19. Blood samples were tested for the presence or absence of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 using a commercial Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit (Euroimmun). Results Overall, 477 (58.2%) were male and 343 (41.8%) were female. The majority of the participants (N = 581; 70.9%) were between 18 and 34 years old and not vaccinated against COVID‐19 (N = 793; 96.7%). The overall seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was 41.7% (95% CI: 33.3%–47.6%). The highest prevalence was found in Goljano district (70%) and the lowest in Gunagado district (22.5%). Only age was found to be associated with COVID‐19 seropositivity. Conclusion Prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was the highest ever reported in Ethiopia, indicating that a large proportion of the population had been infected 14 months after the start of the outbreak in the country. Such studies are important to swiftly reassess and improve specific COVID‐19 preventive and control measures to reduce transmissions within the community in a given setting.
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spelling doaj.art-13f72b880e964b62b6d7a0e0891cc9582024-01-25T11:02:19ZengWileyImmunity, Inflammation and Disease2050-45272024-01-01121n/an/a10.1002/iid3.1148A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern EthiopiaSolomon Yared0Tsegalem Abera1Seid Mohammed Ali2Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed3Mohammed Ibrahim4Abdulahi Hussen5Jan Hattendorf6Jakob Zinsstag7Rea Tschopp8Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences Jigjiga University Jigjiga EthiopiaDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine Jigjiga University Jigjiga EthiopiaDepartment of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Dryland Agriculture Jigjiga University Jigjiga EthiopiaDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute University of Basel Basel SwitzerlandDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine Jigjiga University Jigjiga EthiopiaSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Jigjiga University Jigjiga EthiopiaDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute University of Basel Basel SwitzerlandDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute University of Basel Basel SwitzerlandDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute University of Basel Basel SwitzerlandAbstract Background Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) is life‐threatening infectious disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that caused a global pandemic. SARS‐CoV‐2 has been widely transmitted throughout Ethiopia, with over 501,060 cases confirmed and 7574 deaths until November 2023. This study assessed for the first time the seroprevalence SARS‐CoV‐2 in the general population of the Somali Region during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods A cross‐sectional study design was conducted from May to June 2021 in 14 districts of Somali Region. Blood samples were collected in 820 participants in addition to administering a questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics and history of clinical symptoms of COVID‐19. Blood samples were tested for the presence or absence of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 using a commercial Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit (Euroimmun). Results Overall, 477 (58.2%) were male and 343 (41.8%) were female. The majority of the participants (N = 581; 70.9%) were between 18 and 34 years old and not vaccinated against COVID‐19 (N = 793; 96.7%). The overall seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was 41.7% (95% CI: 33.3%–47.6%). The highest prevalence was found in Goljano district (70%) and the lowest in Gunagado district (22.5%). Only age was found to be associated with COVID‐19 seropositivity. Conclusion Prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was the highest ever reported in Ethiopia, indicating that a large proportion of the population had been infected 14 months after the start of the outbreak in the country. Such studies are important to swiftly reassess and improve specific COVID‐19 preventive and control measures to reduce transmissions within the community in a given setting.https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.1148communitySARS‐CoV‐2seroprevalenceSomali Region
spellingShingle Solomon Yared
Tsegalem Abera
Seid Mohammed Ali
Abdifatah Muktar Muhummed
Mohammed Ibrahim
Abdulahi Hussen
Jan Hattendorf
Jakob Zinsstag
Rea Tschopp
A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
community
SARS‐CoV‐2
seroprevalence
Somali Region
title A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
title_full A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
title_fullStr A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
title_short A community based seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia
title_sort community based seroprevalence of sars cov 2 antibodies in somali region eastern ethiopia
topic community
SARS‐CoV‐2
seroprevalence
Somali Region
url https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.1148
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