Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021.
On 28 May 2021, leisure travel restrictions in place to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were eased among vaccinated U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in South Korea (USFK) allowing access to bars and clubs which were off limits. We describe results from an investigation...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | PLOS Global Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000236 |
| _version_ | 1797703631608217600 |
|---|---|
| author | Shilpa Hakre Evelyn Y Lam Irina Maljkovic-Berry Jun Hang Luis A Pow Sang Elizabeth J Bianchi Christian Fung Jay Gandhi Marcus Chibucos Matthew A Conte Adam R Pollio Christine A Mariskanish Luke A Mansfield Kayvon Modjarrad Heather L Friberg-Robertson Grace M Lidl Paul T Scott Douglas A Lougee |
| author_facet | Shilpa Hakre Evelyn Y Lam Irina Maljkovic-Berry Jun Hang Luis A Pow Sang Elizabeth J Bianchi Christian Fung Jay Gandhi Marcus Chibucos Matthew A Conte Adam R Pollio Christine A Mariskanish Luke A Mansfield Kayvon Modjarrad Heather L Friberg-Robertson Grace M Lidl Paul T Scott Douglas A Lougee |
| author_sort | Shilpa Hakre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On 28 May 2021, leisure travel restrictions in place to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were eased among vaccinated U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in South Korea (USFK) allowing access to bars and clubs which were off limits. We describe results from an investigation of the largest severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak as of November 2021 among USFK personnel following this change in policy. Data such as SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results, demographic characteristics, symptom and vaccination histories, and genome sequences were analyzed. Of a total 207 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed among USFK members from 15 June to 27 July 2021, 113 (57%) eligible cases were fully vaccinated, of whom 86 (76%) were symptomatic. RT-PCR cycling threshold values were similar among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Whole genomic sequencing of 54 outbreak samples indicated all infections were due to the Delta variant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two sources of SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 41% of infections among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Vaccinated personnel were not at risk of severe illness; however, 86% experienced symptoms following infection. There were no hospitalizations among COVID-19 cases, most of whom were young military service members. Rescinded restrictions were reinstated to control the outbreak. Masking was mandated among all personnel predating U.S. national recommendations for indoor masking in high COVID-19 transmission areas. Increased vaccination with continued vigilance and extension of COVID-19 mitigation measures are warranted to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:07:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-151c3dde5b1c43fa97e6e7a2334c7b62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2767-3375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:07:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLOS Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-151c3dde5b1c43fa97e6e7a2334c7b622023-09-03T08:50:31ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752022-01-0125e000023610.1371/journal.pgph.0000236Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021.Shilpa HakreEvelyn Y LamIrina Maljkovic-BerryJun HangLuis A Pow SangElizabeth J BianchiChristian FungJay GandhiMarcus ChibucosMatthew A ConteAdam R PollioChristine A MariskanishLuke A MansfieldKayvon ModjarradHeather L Friberg-RobertsonGrace M LidlPaul T ScottDouglas A LougeeOn 28 May 2021, leisure travel restrictions in place to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were eased among vaccinated U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in South Korea (USFK) allowing access to bars and clubs which were off limits. We describe results from an investigation of the largest severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak as of November 2021 among USFK personnel following this change in policy. Data such as SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results, demographic characteristics, symptom and vaccination histories, and genome sequences were analyzed. Of a total 207 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed among USFK members from 15 June to 27 July 2021, 113 (57%) eligible cases were fully vaccinated, of whom 86 (76%) were symptomatic. RT-PCR cycling threshold values were similar among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Whole genomic sequencing of 54 outbreak samples indicated all infections were due to the Delta variant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two sources of SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 41% of infections among vaccinated and unvaccinated members. Vaccinated personnel were not at risk of severe illness; however, 86% experienced symptoms following infection. There were no hospitalizations among COVID-19 cases, most of whom were young military service members. Rescinded restrictions were reinstated to control the outbreak. Masking was mandated among all personnel predating U.S. national recommendations for indoor masking in high COVID-19 transmission areas. Increased vaccination with continued vigilance and extension of COVID-19 mitigation measures are warranted to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000236 |
| spellingShingle | Shilpa Hakre Evelyn Y Lam Irina Maljkovic-Berry Jun Hang Luis A Pow Sang Elizabeth J Bianchi Christian Fung Jay Gandhi Marcus Chibucos Matthew A Conte Adam R Pollio Christine A Mariskanish Luke A Mansfield Kayvon Modjarrad Heather L Friberg-Robertson Grace M Lidl Paul T Scott Douglas A Lougee Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. PLOS Global Public Health |
| title | Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. |
| title_full | Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. |
| title_short | Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among U.S. military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the Republic of Korea, June-July 2021. |
| title_sort | investigation of an outbreak of covid 19 among u s military personnel and beneficiaries stationed in the republic of korea june july 2021 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000236 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shilpahakre investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT evelynylam investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT irinamaljkovicberry investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT junhang investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT luisapowsang investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT elizabethjbianchi investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT christianfung investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT jaygandhi investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT marcuschibucos investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT matthewaconte investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT adamrpollio investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT christineamariskanish investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT lukeamansfield investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT kayvonmodjarrad investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT heatherlfribergrobertson investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT gracemlidl investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT paultscott investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 AT douglasalougee investigationofanoutbreakofcovid19amongusmilitarypersonnelandbeneficiariesstationedintherepublicofkoreajunejuly2021 |