SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation
Abstract Background In fall 2020 when schools in the Netherlands operated under a limited set of COVID-19 measures, we conducted outbreaks studies in four secondary schools to gain insight in the level of school transmission and the role of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via air and surfaces. Methods Outbr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07904-3 |
| _version_ | 1828083385263718400 |
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| author | Lotte Jonker Kimberly J. Linde Marieke L. A. de Hoog Robin Sprado Robin C. Huisman Richard Molenkamp Bas B. Oude Munnink Wietske Dohmen Dick J. J. Heederik Dirk Eggink Matthijs R. A. Welkers Harry Vennema Pieter L. A. Fraaij Marion P. G. Koopmans Inge M. Wouters Patricia C. J. L. Bruijning-Verhagen |
| author_facet | Lotte Jonker Kimberly J. Linde Marieke L. A. de Hoog Robin Sprado Robin C. Huisman Richard Molenkamp Bas B. Oude Munnink Wietske Dohmen Dick J. J. Heederik Dirk Eggink Matthijs R. A. Welkers Harry Vennema Pieter L. A. Fraaij Marion P. G. Koopmans Inge M. Wouters Patricia C. J. L. Bruijning-Verhagen |
| author_sort | Lotte Jonker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In fall 2020 when schools in the Netherlands operated under a limited set of COVID-19 measures, we conducted outbreaks studies in four secondary schools to gain insight in the level of school transmission and the role of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via air and surfaces. Methods Outbreak studies were performed between 11 November and 15 December 2020 when the wild-type variant of SARS-CoV-2 was dominant. Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infections within schools were identified through a prospective school surveillance study. All school contacts of cluster cases, irrespective of symptoms, were invited for PCR testing twice within 48 h and 4–7 days later. Combined NTS and saliva samples were collected at each time point along with data on recent exposure and symptoms. Surface and active air samples were collected in the school environment. All samples were PCR-tested and sequenced when possible. Results Out of 263 sampled school contacts, 24 tested SARS-CoV-2 positive (secondary attack rate 9.1%), of which 62% remained asymptomatic and 42% had a weakly positive test result. Phylogenetic analysis on 12 subjects from 2 schools indicated a cluster of 8 and 2 secondary cases, respectively, but also other distinct strains within outbreaks. Of 51 collected air and 53 surface samples, none were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Conclusion Our study confirmed within school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and substantial silent circulation, but also multiple introductions in some cases. Absence of air or surface contamination suggests environmental contamination is not widespread during school outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:08:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1846153142be44b38dfb0ca1d9cddd07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:08:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-1846153142be44b38dfb0ca1d9cddd072023-01-01T12:13:54ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342022-12-0122111110.1186/s12879-022-07904-3SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulationLotte Jonker0Kimberly J. Linde1Marieke L. A. de Hoog2Robin Sprado3Robin C. Huisman4Richard Molenkamp5Bas B. Oude Munnink6Wietske Dohmen7Dick J. J. Heederik8Dirk Eggink9Matthijs R. A. Welkers10Harry Vennema11Pieter L. A. Fraaij12Marion P. G. Koopmans13Inge M. Wouters14Patricia C. J. L. Bruijning-Verhagen15Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityCenter for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCenter for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentCenter for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the EnvironmentDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityAbstract Background In fall 2020 when schools in the Netherlands operated under a limited set of COVID-19 measures, we conducted outbreaks studies in four secondary schools to gain insight in the level of school transmission and the role of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via air and surfaces. Methods Outbreak studies were performed between 11 November and 15 December 2020 when the wild-type variant of SARS-CoV-2 was dominant. Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infections within schools were identified through a prospective school surveillance study. All school contacts of cluster cases, irrespective of symptoms, were invited for PCR testing twice within 48 h and 4–7 days later. Combined NTS and saliva samples were collected at each time point along with data on recent exposure and symptoms. Surface and active air samples were collected in the school environment. All samples were PCR-tested and sequenced when possible. Results Out of 263 sampled school contacts, 24 tested SARS-CoV-2 positive (secondary attack rate 9.1%), of which 62% remained asymptomatic and 42% had a weakly positive test result. Phylogenetic analysis on 12 subjects from 2 schools indicated a cluster of 8 and 2 secondary cases, respectively, but also other distinct strains within outbreaks. Of 51 collected air and 53 surface samples, none were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Conclusion Our study confirmed within school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and substantial silent circulation, but also multiple introductions in some cases. Absence of air or surface contamination suggests environmental contamination is not widespread during school outbreaks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07904-3SARS-CoV-2Secondary schoolsTransmissionOutbreakAir levels |
| spellingShingle | Lotte Jonker Kimberly J. Linde Marieke L. A. de Hoog Robin Sprado Robin C. Huisman Richard Molenkamp Bas B. Oude Munnink Wietske Dohmen Dick J. J. Heederik Dirk Eggink Matthijs R. A. Welkers Harry Vennema Pieter L. A. Fraaij Marion P. G. Koopmans Inge M. Wouters Patricia C. J. L. Bruijning-Verhagen SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation BMC Infectious Diseases SARS-CoV-2 Secondary schools Transmission Outbreak Air levels |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the Netherlands during fall 2020; silent circulation |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 outbreaks in secondary school settings in the netherlands during fall 2020 silent circulation |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Secondary schools Transmission Outbreak Air levels |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07904-3 |
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