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Farkas K, Fletcher J, Oxley J, Ridding N, Williams RC, Woodhall N, Weightman AJ, Cross G, Jones DL. Implications of long-term sample storage on the recovery of viruses from wastewater and biobanking. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 265:122209. [PMID: 39126986 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based monitoring has been widely implemented worldwide for the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and other viral diseases. In many surveillance programmes, unprocessed and processed wastewater samples are often frozen and stored for long periods of time in case the identification and tracing of an emerging health threat becomes necessary. However, extensive sample bioarchives may be difficult to maintain due to limitations in ultra-freezer capacity and associated cost. Furthermore, the stability of viruses in such samples has not been systematically investigated and hence the usefulness of bioarchives is unknown. In this study, we assessed the stability of SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, noroviruses and the faecal indicator virus, crAssphage, in raw wastewater and purified nucleic aacid extracts stored at -80 °C for 6-24 months. We found that the isolated viral RNA and DNA showed little signs of degradation in storage over 8-24 months, whereas extensive decay viral and loss of qPCR signal was observed during the storage of raw unprocessed wastewater. The most stable viruses were noroviruses and crAssphage, followed by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. Based on our findings, we conclude that bioarchives comprised of nucleic acid extracts derived from concentrated wastewater samples may be archived long-term, for at least two years, whereas raw wastewater samples may be discarded after one year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Jessica Fletcher
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - James Oxley
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Nicola Ridding
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Rachel C Williams
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Nick Woodhall
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Andrew J Weightman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Gareth Cross
- Science Evidence Advice Division, Health and Social Services Group, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, UK
| | - Davey L Jones
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
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2
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Holmes EC. The Emergence and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Annu Rev Virol 2024; 11:21-42. [PMID: 38631919 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-093022-013037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The origin of SARS-CoV-2 has evoked heated debate and strong accusations, yet seemingly little resolution. I review the scientific evidence on the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and its subsequent spread through the human population. The available data clearly point to a natural zoonotic emergence within, or closely linked to, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. There is no direct evidence linking the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 to laboratory work conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The subsequent global spread of SARS-CoV-2 was characterized by a gradual adaptation to humans, with dual increases in transmissibility and virulence until the emergence of the Omicron variant. Of note has been the frequent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to other animals, marking it as a strongly host generalist virus. Unless lessons from the origin of SARS-CoV-2 are learned, it is inevitable that more zoonotic events leading to more epidemics and pandemics will plague human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
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3
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da Silva CCM, Santos CRDL, Céleri EP, Salles D, Fardin JM, Pussi KF, Gomes DCDO, Ribeiro VDO, Konrad-Moraes LC, Neitzke-Abreu HC, Júnior VL. An Epidemiological Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in the Sewage System of a Higher Education Institution. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:50. [PMID: 39139447 PMCID: PMC11319693 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023, three years after the adoption of global emergency measures. Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage underscores its importance due to its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, highlighting the need to prioritize research on water resources and sanitation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct an epidemiological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in the sewage system of a higher education institution located in Vitória Espírito Santo State, Maruípe campus. Methods: Over a period of 66 days, from February 6 to April 12, 2023, 15 samples were collected. Each sample consisted of 1 L, collected in 1 hour, with 250 mL collected every 15 minutes. The samples were characterized by assessing their appearance, and pH was measured using a Horiba U-50 multiparameter probe. The extracted RNA was subjected to RT-qPCR using the Allplex™ 2019-nCovAssay Seegene kit. Results: The samples exhibited a cloudy appearance with impurities, and the pH ranged from 6.35 to 8.17. Among the evaluated samples, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in two, and, by comparing this with the epidemiological bulletin issued by the State Health Department, an increase in cases in the state was observed during the collection period of these samples. Conclusions: Sewage monitoring proved to be an important tool in this post-pandemic period, serving as an alert and prevention mechanism for the population in relation to new outbreaks. Furthermore, it represents a low-cost mapping strategy and extensive testing of a population, aligning with the studies presented at the beginning of the pandemic. We recommend specific adjustments considering distinct populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmem Cícera Maria da Silva
- PostGraduate Program in Chemistry, Center for Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Infectious Diseases Nucleous, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Rangel de Lima Santos
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Eliomar Pivante Céleri
- PostGraduate Program in Chemistry, Center for Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - David Salles
- Infectious Diseases Nucleous, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Julia Miranda Fardin
- Infectious Diseases Nucleous, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Kamily Fagundes Pussi
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Vinicius de Oliveira Ribeiro
- Graduate Program Environmental and Sanitary Engineering. Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leila Cristina Konrad-Moraes
- Graduate Program Environmental and Sanitary Engineering. Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Herintha Coeto Neitzke-Abreu
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Valdemar Lacerda Júnior
- PostGraduate Program in Chemistry, Center for Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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4
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Khan U, Mubariz M, Khlidj Y, Nasir MM, Ramadan S, Saeed F, Muhammad A, Abuelazm M. Safety and Efficacy of Camostat Mesylate for Covid-19: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of Randomized controlled trials. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:709. [PMID: 39030491 PMCID: PMC11264738 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09468-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Camostat mesylate, an oral serine protease inhibitor, is a powerful TMPRSS2 inhibitor and has been reported as a possible antiviral treatment against COVID-19. Therefore, we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of camostat mesylate for COVID-19 treatment. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, clinical trials.gov, and medrxiv until June 2023. The outcomes were pooled using Mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO with ID CRD42023439633. RESULTS Nine RCTs, including 1,623 patients, were included in this analysis. There was no difference between camostat mesylate and placebo in producing negative PCR test results at 1-7 days (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: [0.54, 1.06] P = 0.1), 8-14 days (RR: 1.02, 95% CI: [0.84, 1.23] P = 0.87), or 15-21 days (RR: 0.99, 95% CI: [0.82, 1.19] P = 0.90); clinical resolution of symptoms at 1-7 days (RR: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.58, 1.53) P = 0.81), 8-14 days (RR: 0.91, 95% CI: [0.74, 1.11] P = 0.33, ), or 15-21 days (RR: 0.77, 95% CI: [0.40, 1.51] P = 0.45); and time to symptom improvement (MD:-0.38 weeks (95% CI: [-1.42, 0.66] P = 0.47, I2 = 85%). CONCLUSION Camostat mesylate did not improve clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19, compared to placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ubaid Khan
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | | | - Yehya Khlidj
- Faculty of medicine, Algiers University, Alger Centre, Algeria
| | | | | | - Fatima Saeed
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
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5
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Kakavandi E, Sadeghi K, Shayestehpour M, Mirhendi H, Rahimi Foroushani A, Mokhtari-Azad T, Shafiei Jandaghi NZ, Yavarian J. Evaluation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin II (Ang II), miR-141-3p, and miR-421 levels in SARS-CoV-2 patients: a case-control study. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:429. [PMID: 38649818 PMCID: PMC11036566 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09310-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious virus that uses angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a pivotal member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), as its cell-entry receptor. Another member of the RAS, angiotensin II (Ang II), is the major biologically active component in this system. There is growing evidence suggesting that serum miRNAs could serve as prognostic biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection and regulate ACE2 expression. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in the serum levels of sACE2 and Ang II, as well as the expression level of miR-141-3p and miR-421 in SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative subjects. METHODS In the present study, the serum levels of sACE2 and Ang II were measured in 94 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and 94 SARS-CoV-2 negative subjects with some symptoms similar to those of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients using the ELISA method. In addition, the expression level of miR-141-3p and miR-421 as ACE2 regulators and biomarkers was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method. RESULTS The mean serum sACE2 concentration in the SARS-CoV-2-positive group was 3.268 ± 0.410 ng/ml, whereas in the SARS-CoV-2 negative group, it was 3.564 ± 0.437 ng/ml. Additionally, the mean serum Ang II level in the SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups were 60.67 ± 6.192 ng/L and 67.97 ± 6.837 ng/L, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the serum levels of sACE2 (P value: 0.516) and Ang II (P value: 0.134) between the SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups. Meanwhile, our findings indicated that the expression levels of miR-141-3p and miR-421 in SARS-CoV-2 positive group were significantly lower and higher than SARS-CoV-2 negative group, respectively (P value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the results of this study showed that the serum levels of sACE2 and Ang II in SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative subjects were not significantly different, but the expression levels of miR-141-3p and miR-421 were altered in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients which need more investigation to be used as biomarkers for COVID-19 diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Kakavandi
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Sadeghi
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shayestehpour
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Mirhendi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Talat Mokhtari-Azad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Jila Yavarian
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Research Center for Antibiotic Stewardship and Antimicrobial Resistance, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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6
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Crombé A, Dupont C, Casalonga F, Seux M, Favard N, Coulon A, Jurkovic T, Nivet H, Gorincour G. Emergency department CT examinations demonstrate no evidence of early viral circulation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic-a multicentre epidemiological study. Insights Imaging 2024; 15:14. [PMID: 38228899 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-023-01590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological studies suggested that the COVID-19 outbreak in France occurred before the first official diagnosis on January 24, 2020. We investigated this controversial topic using a large collection of chest CTs performed throughout French emergency departments within 6 months before the 1st lockdown. RESULTS Overall, 49,311 consecutive patients (median age: 60 years, 23,636/49,311 [47.9%] women) with available chest CT images and reports from 61 emergency departments between September 1, 2020, and March 16, 2020 (day before the 1st French lockdown), were retrospectively included in this multicentre study. In the macroscopic analysis of reports automatically (labelled for presence of ground glass opacities [GGOs], reticulations, and bilateral and subpleural abnormalities), we found a significant breakpoint on February 17, 2020, for the weekly time series with 1, 2 and ≥ 3 of these 4 radiological features, with 146/49,311 (0.3%) patients showing bilateral abnormalities and ground glass opacities (GGOs) from that day. According to radiologists, 22/146 (15.1%) CT images showed typical characteristics of COVID-19, including 4/146 (2.7%) before February 2020. According to hospital records, one patient remained without microbial diagnosis, two patients had proven influenza A and one patient had concomitant influenza A and mycoplasma infection. CONCLUSION These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 was not circulating in the areas covered by the 61 emergency departments involved in our study before the official beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in France. In emergency patients, the strong resemblance among mycoplasma, influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 lung infections on chest CT and the nonspecificity of CT patterns in low prevalence periods is stressed. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT We proposed here an innovative approach to revisit a controversial 'real' start of the COVID-19 pandemic in France based on (1) a population-level approach combining text mining, time series analysis and an epidemiological dataset and (2) a patient-level approach with careful retrospective reading of chest CT scans complemented by analysis of samples performed contemporarily to the chest CT. We showed no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was actively circulating in France before February 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Crombé
- IMADIS, Lyon, France
- SARCOTARGET Team, BRIC INSERM U1312 - Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, F-33000, France
- Department of Radiology, Pellegrin University Hospital, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | | | - Nicolas Favard
- IMADIS, Lyon, France
- Imagerie Médicale du Mâconnais, Mâcon, France
| | - Agnès Coulon
- IMADIS, Lyon, France
- Centre Léon Berard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Hubert Nivet
- IMADIS, Lyon, France
- Centre Aquitain d'Imagerie Médicale, Mérignac, France
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7
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Kiselev IN, Akberdin IR, Kolpakov FA. Delay-differential SEIR modeling for improved modelling of infection dynamics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13439. [PMID: 37596296 PMCID: PMC10439236 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40008-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) approach is a classic modeling method that is frequently used to study infectious diseases. However, in the vast majority of such models transitions from one population group to another are described using the mass-action law. That causes inability to reproduce observable dynamics of an infection such as the incubation period or progression of the disease's symptoms. In this paper, we propose a new approach to simulate the epidemic dynamics based on a system of differential equations with time delays and instant transitions to approximate durations of transition processes more correctly and make model parameters more clear. The suggested approach can be applied not only to Covid-19 but also to the study of other infectious diseases. We utilized it in the development of the delay-based model of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and France. The model takes into account testing of different population groups, symptoms progression from mild to critical, vaccination, duration of protective immunity and new virus strains. The stringency index was used as a generalized characteristic of the non-pharmaceutical government interventions in corresponding countries to contain the virus spread. The parameter identifiability analysis demonstrated that the presented modeling approach enables to significantly reduce the number of parameters and make them more identifiable. Both models are publicly available.
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Affiliation(s)
- I N Kiselev
- FRC for Information and Computational Technologies, Novosibirsk, Russia.
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius, Russia.
- BIOSOFT.RU, Ltd, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - I R Akberdin
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius, Russia
- BIOSOFT.RU, Ltd, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - F A Kolpakov
- FRC for Information and Computational Technologies, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius, Russia
- BIOSOFT.RU, Ltd, Novosibirsk, Russia
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8
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Haque R, Hossain ME, Miah M, Rahman M, Amin N, Rahman Z, Islam MS, Rahman MZ. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater of Dhaka City, Bangladesh: approach to complement public health surveillance systems. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:58. [PMID: 37420264 PMCID: PMC10326934 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance has been considered a powerful tool for early detection and monitoring of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and its lineages circulating in a community. This study is aimed to investigate the complexity of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in Dhaka city by examining its genetic variants in wastewater. Also, the study seeks to determine a connection between the SARS-CoV-2 variations detected in clinical testing and those found in wastewater samples. RESULTS Out of 504 samples tested in RT-qPCR, 185 (36.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. The median log10 concentration of SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/Liter of wastewater (gc/L) was 5.2, and the median log10 concentration of ORF1ab was 4.9. To further reveal the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, ten samples with ORF1ab real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values ranging from 28.78 to 32.13 were subjected to whole genome sequencing using nanopore technology. According to clade classification, sequences from wastewater samples were grouped into 4 clades: 20A, 20B, 21A, 21J, and the Pango lineage, B.1, B.1.1, B.1.1.25, and B.1.617.2, with coverage ranging from 94.2 to 99.8%. Of them, 70% belonged to clade 20B, followed by 10% to clade 20A, 21A, and 21J. Lineage B.1.1.25 was predominant in Bangladesh and phylogenetically related to the sequences from India, the USA, Canada, the UK, and Italy. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first identified in clinical samples at the beginning of May 2021. In contrast, we found that it was circulating in the community and was detected in wastewater in September 2020. CONCLUSION Environmental surveillance is useful for monitoring temporal and spatial trends of existing and emerging infectious diseases and supports evidence-based public health measures. The findings of this study supported the use of wastewater-based epidemiology and provided the baseline data for the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the wastewater environment in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehnuma Haque
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mohammad Enayet Hossain
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mojnu Miah
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Nuhu Amin
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, The University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ziaur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shariful Islam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- The School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
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9
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Cao Y, Chen L, Chen H, Cun Y, Dai X, Du H, Gao F, Guo F, Guo Y, Hao P, He S, He S, He X, Hu Z, Hoh BP, Jin X, Jiang Q, Jiang Q, Khan A, Kong HZ, Li J, Li SC, Li Y, Lin Q, Liu J, Liu Q, Lu J, Lu X, Luo S, Nie Q, Qiu Z, Shi T, Song X, Su J, Tao SC, Wang C, Wang CC, Wang GD, Wang J, Wu Q, Wu S, Xu S, Xue Y, Yang W, Yang Z, Ye K, Ye YN, Yu L, Zhao F, Zhao Y, Zhai W, Zhang D, Zhang L, Zheng H, Zhou Q, Zhu T, Zhang YP. Was Wuhan the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic?-A critique. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwac287. [PMID: 37089192 PMCID: PMC10116607 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwac287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Cao
- Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Lingling Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Yupeng Cun
- Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
| | - Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, China
| | - Hongli Du
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, China
| | - Fengbiao Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, China
| | - Yalong Guo
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Pei Hao
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Shunmin He
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Shunping He
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - XiongLei He
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Boon-Peng Hoh
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Sedaya International, Malaysia
| | - Xin Jin
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, China
| | - Qinghua Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
| | - Asifullah Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University, Pakistan
| | - Hong-Zhi Kong
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China
| | - Shuai Cheng Li
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Foshan University, China
| | - Qiang Lin
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | | | - Qi Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, China
| | - Jian Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, China
| | - Xuemei Lu
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Shujin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, China
| | - Qinghua Nie
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Tieliu Shi
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, China
| | - Xiaofeng Song
- Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China
| | - Jianzhong Su
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Sheng-ce Tao
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Chaolong Wang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | | | - Guo-Dong Wang
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Jiguang Wang
- Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Shaoyuan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, China
| | - Shuhua Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, China
| | - Yu Xue
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Wenjun Yang
- International Center for Aging and Cancer, Hainan Medical University, China
| | - Zhaohui Yang
- Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Kai Ye
- Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Yuan-Nong Ye
- Bioinformatics and BioMedical Bigdata Mining Laboratory, School of Big Health, Guizhou Medical University, China
| | - Li Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Yiqiang Zhao
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Medical Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Liye Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, China
| | | | - Qi Zhou
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Tianqi Zhu
- Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Ya-ping Zhang
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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10
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Ruan Y, Wen H, Hou M, Zhai W, Xu S, Lu X. On the epicenter of COVID-19 and the origin of the pandemic strain. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwac286. [PMID: 37089190 PMCID: PMC10115162 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwac286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yongsen Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Haijun Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Mei Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Shuhua Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, China
| | - Xuemei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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11
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Petersen A, Nagel S, Hamm B, Taupitz M. Chest computed tomography findings typical of COVID-19 pneumonia in Germany as early as 30 December 2019: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2023; 17:117. [PMID: 36964561 PMCID: PMC10038364 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-03809-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 were officially confirmed in Germany and its European neighbors in late January 2020. In France and Italy, there is evidence that coronavirus disease 2019 was spreading as early as December 2019. CASE PRESENTATION We report on a 71-year-old male patient from Germany who was admitted to our hospital on 30 December 2019 with pneumonia of unclear etiology and chest computed tomography findings typical of COVID-19 pneumonia. CONCLUSION This case may indicate that coronavirus disease 2019 was already spreading in Germany as early as December 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Petersen
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Nagel
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Hamm
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Taupitz
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany
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12
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Li Y, Huang ST, Chen WC, Huang WT, Chen FJ, Lin MT, Lin DL, Lai PF, Ko CF, Su CP. Epidemiological investigation of the first locally acquired case of COVID-19 identified by influenza surveillance-Taiwan, February 2020. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2023:S1684-1182(23)00008-7. [PMID: 36693777 PMCID: PMC9840222 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 and influenza have similar clinical presentations that can range from mild to severe disease. The World Health Organization recommends that countries use existing influenza surveillance to monitor COVID-19 transmission in communities. We aim to describe the surveillance and investigation of COVID-19 at the early stage of the pandemic in Taiwan. METHODS In February 2020, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control enhanced COVID-19 surveillance through its existing influenza surveillance. We retrospectively tested patients for SARS-CoV-2 who had symptoms of severe complicated influenza but were negative in influenza testing. We conducted an epidemiological investigation and contact tracing for the index patient and secondary cases to prevent virus transmission. RESULTS We identified the first COVID-19 patient on February 15 through enhanced COVID-19 surveillance. He had no history of traveling abroad and an unclear history of contact with COVID-19 cases. He presented with influenza-like illness on January 27 and was hospitalized from February 3 to 15. We identified 39 close contacts of the index patient, including 11 family members and 28 healthcare workers. In total, four close family contacts of the index patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. An additional 84 close contacts of the four secondary cases were identified and traced; none was diagnosed with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS We recommend enhancing COVID-19 surveillance by testing patients with influenza-like illness. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we recommend using appropriate personal protective equipment when in close contact with patients who present with influenza-like illness or when caring for patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan,Preventive Medicine Office, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Tse Huang
- Preventive Medicine Office, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chin Chen
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan,Preventive Medicine Office, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Huang
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan,Preventive Medicine Office, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Jun Chen
- Central Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Min-Tsung Lin
- Central Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Du-Ling Lin
- Central Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Fang Lai
- Central Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Fen Ko
- Central Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-ping Su
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan,Preventive Medicine Office, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan,Corresponding author. No.6, Linsen S. Rd., Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
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13
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Amendola A, Canuti M, Bianchi S, Kumar S, Fappani C, Gori M, Colzani D, Kosakovsky Pond SL, Miura S, Baggieri M, Marchi A, Borghi E, Zuccotti G, Raviglione MC, Magurano F, Tanzi E. Molecular evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in samples collected from patients with morbilliform eruptions since late 2019 in Lombardy, northern Italy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:113979. [PMID: 36029839 PMCID: PMC9404229 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
As a reference laboratory for measles and rubella surveillance in Lombardy, we evaluated the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and measles-like syndromes, providing preliminary evidence for undetected early circulation of SARS-CoV-2. Overall, 435 samples from 156 cases were investigated. RNA from oropharyngeal swabs (N = 148) and urine (N = 141) was screened with four hemi-nested PCRs and molecular evidence for SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in 13 subjects. Two of the positive patients were from the pandemic period (2/12, 16.7%, March 2020-March 2021) and 11 were from the pre-pandemic period (11/44, 25%, August 2019-February 2020). Sera (N = 146) were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. Five of the RNA-positive individuals also had detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. No strong evidence of infection was found in samples collected between August 2018 and July 2019 from 100 patients. The earliest sample with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was from September 12, 2019, and the positive patient was also positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG and IgM). Mutations typical of B.1 strains previously reported to have emerged in January 2020 (C3037T, C14408T, and A23403G), were identified in samples collected as early as October 2019 in Lombardy. One of these mutations (C14408T) was also identified among sequences downloaded from public databases that were obtained by others from samples collected in Brazil in November 2019. We conclude that a SARS-CoV-2 progenitor capable of producing a measles-like syndrome may have emerged in late June-late July 2019 and that viruses with mutations characterizing B.1 strain may have been spreading globally before the first Wuhan outbreak. Our findings should be complemented by high-throughput sequencing to obtain additional sequence information. We highlight the importance of retrospective surveillance studies in understanding the early dynamics of COVID-19 spread and we encourage other groups to perform retrospective investigations to seek confirmatory proofs of early SARS-CoV-2 circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Amendola
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marta Canuti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Bianchi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Biology, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA; Center for Excellence in Genome Medicine and Research, King Abdulaziz University, 22252, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Clara Fappani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Gori
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Daniela Colzani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sergei L Kosakovsky Pond
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Biology, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Sayaka Miura
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Biology, Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Melissa Baggieri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonella Marchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisa Borghi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Department of Paediatrics, Children Hospital V. Buzzi, University of Milan, 20154, Milan, Italy; Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Pediatric Research Center, University of Milan, 20154, Milan, Italy.
| | - Mario C Raviglione
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research in Health Science, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy.
| | - Fabio Magurano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Tanzi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142, Milan, Italy; Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Trombetta CM, Marchi S, Viviani S, Manenti A, Casa E, Dapporto F, Remarque EJ, Bollati V, Manini I, Lazzeri G, Montomoli E. A serological investigation in Southern Italy: was SARS-CoV-2 circulating in late 2019? Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2047582. [PMID: 35289714 PMCID: PMC8935457 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2047582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In March 2020, the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus was declared by the World Health Organization. Italy was one of the first and most severely affected countries, particularly the northern part of the country. The latest evidence suggests that the virus could have been circulating, at least in Italy, before the first autochthonous SARS-COV-2 case was detected in February 2020. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum samples collected in the last months of 2019 (September–December) in the Apulia region, Southern Italy. Eight of 455 samples tested proved positive on in-house receptor-binding-domain-based ELISA. Given the month of collection of the positive samples, these findings may indicate early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Apulia region in the autumn of 2019. However, it cannot be completely ruled out that the observed sero-reactivity could be an unknown antigen specificity in another virus to which subjects were exposed containing an epitope adventitiously cross-reactive with an epitope of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Serena Marchi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simonetta Viviani
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Edmond J Remarque
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Bollati
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Manini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Lazzeri
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Montomoli
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,VisMederi srl, Siena, Italy.,VisMederi Research srl, Siena, Italy
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15
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Gričar S, Bojnec Š. Did Human Microbes Affect Tourist Arrivals before the COVID-19 Shock? Pre-Effect Forecasting Model for Slovenia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13482. [PMID: 36294060 PMCID: PMC9603530 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, with a substantial decline in tourist arrivals slightly before the time of COVID-19, the innovative econometric approach predicted possible responses between the spread of human microbes (bacteria/viruses) and tourist arrivals. The article developed a conceptually tested econometric model for predicting an exogenous shock on tourist arrivals driven by the spread of disease using a time series approach. The reworked study is based on an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to avoid spurious results. The periods of robust empirical study were obtained from the data vectors i) from January 2008 to December 2018 and ii) from January 2008 to December 2020. The data were obtained from the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. The ARIMA model predicted the number of declines in tourist arrivals for the approaching periods due to the spread of viruses. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, pre-pandemic results confirmed a one-fifth drop in tourist arrivals in the medium term. In the short term, the decline could be more than three-quarters. A further shock can be caused by forecasted bacterial infections; less likely to reduce tourist demand in the long term. The results can improve the evidence for public health demand in risk reduction for tourists as possible patients. The data from the NIPH are crucial for monitoring public health and tourism management as a base for predictions of unknown events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergej Gričar
- Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Novo Mesto, Na Loko 2, 8000 Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Štefan Bojnec
- Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Izolska Vrata 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
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16
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Covid-19: Early Cases and Disease Spread. Ann Glob Health 2022; 88:83. [PMID: 36247198 PMCID: PMC9524236 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and global spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to understanding how to prevent or control a future viral pandemic. We review the tools used for this retrospective search, their limits, and results obtained from China, France, Italy and the USA. We examine possible scenarios for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population. We consider the Chinese city of Wuhan where the first cases of atypical pneumonia were attributed to SARS-CoV-2 and from where the disease spread worldwide. Possible superspreading events include the Wuhan-based 7th Military World Games on October 18–27, 2019 and the Chinese New Year holidays from January 25 to February 2, 2020. Several clues point to an early regional circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Italy (Lombardi) as soon as September/October 2019 and in France in November/December 2019, if not before. With the goal of preventing future pandemics, we call for additional retrospective studies designed to trace the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
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17
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Vicentini C, Bordino V, Cornio AR, Meddis D, Marengo N, Ditommaso S, Giacomuzzi M, Memoli G, Furfaro G, Mengozzi G, Ricucci V, Icardi G, Zotti CM. Seroprevalence of infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare users of Northern Italy - results from two serosurveys (October-November 2019 - September-October 2021). Int J Infect Dis 2022; 124:49-54. [PMID: 36116672 PMCID: PMC9477605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The objective was to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in autumn 2019 (before case zero was identified in Italy) and 2021 among residual sera samples from health care users in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Methods Two serosurveys were conducted. Using a semiquantitative method, samples were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the S1 domain of the spike protein. Samples with positive test results from the 2019 survey were independently retested using a multiplex panel to detect IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain, S1 and S2 domains, and nucleocapsid. Samples with positive test results from the 2021 survey underwent repeat testing with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies. Prevalence rates according to gender and age groups, together with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated. Results Overall, the proportion of samples with positive test results was 2/353 in 2019 and 22/363 in 2021, with an estimated seroprevalence of 0.27% (95% CI 0-1.86) and 6.21% (95% CI 3.9-9.31) in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Conclusion Results of this study support the hypothesis that the virus was circulating in Italy as early as autumn 2019. The role of these early cases in broader transmission dynamics remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Vicentini
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Valerio Bordino
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Davide Meddis
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Noemi Marengo
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Savina Ditommaso
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Monica Giacomuzzi
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Memoli
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriella Furfaro
- S.C. Biochimica Clinica (Baldi e Riberi), A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulio Mengozzi
- S.C. Biochimica Clinica (Baldi e Riberi), A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Ricucci
- Hygiene Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Icardi
- Hygiene Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova, Genoa, Italy; Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carla Maria Zotti
- Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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18
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Krittanawong C, Maitra N, Kumar A, Hahn J, Wang Z, Carrasco D, Zhang HJ, Sun T, Jneid H, Virani SS. COVID-19 and preventive strategy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 2022; 12:153-169. [PMID: 36147788 PMCID: PMC9490164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In December 2019, an unprecedented outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) began to spread internationally, now impacting more than 293,750,692 patients with 5,454,131 deaths globally as of January 5, 2022. COVID-19 is highly pathogenic and contagious which has caused a large-scale epidemic impacting more deaths than the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002-2003 or the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemic in 2012-2013. Although COVID-19 symptoms are mild in most people, in those with pre-existing comorbidities there is an increased risk of progression to severe disease and death. In an attempt to mitigate this pandemic, urgent public health measures including quarantining exposed individuals and social distancing have been implemented in most states, while some states have even started the process of re-opening after considering both the economic and public health consequences of social distancing measures. While prevention is crucial, both novel agents and medications already in use with other indications are being investigated in clinical trials for patients with COVID-19. The collaboration between healthcare providers, health systems, patients, private sectors, and local and national governments is needed to protect both healthcare providers and patients to ultimately overcome this pandemic. The purpose of this review is to summarize the peer-reviewed and preprint literature on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical presentation, and available therapies as well as to propose a preventive strategy to overcome the present global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayakrit Krittanawong
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai HeartNew York, NY, USA
| | - Neil Maitra
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Anirudh Kumar
- Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland ClinicCleveland, OH, USA
| | - Joshua Hahn
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for The Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo ClinicRochester, MN, USA
- Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo ClinicRochester, MN, USA
| | - Daniela Carrasco
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Hong Ju Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthBeijing, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Division of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital Capital Medical UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Hani Jneid
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Salim S Virani
- Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHouston, TX, USA
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19
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Cobb NL, Collier S, Attia EF, Augusto O, West TE, Wagenaar BH. Global influenza surveillance systems to detect the spread of influenza-negative influenza-like illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Time series outlier analyses from 2015-2020. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1004035. [PMID: 35852993 PMCID: PMC9295997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surveillance systems are important in detecting changes in disease patterns and can act as early warning systems for emerging disease outbreaks. We hypothesized that analysis of data from existing global influenza surveillance networks early in the COVID-19 pandemic could identify outliers in influenza-negative influenza-like illness (ILI). We used data-driven methods to detect outliers in ILI that preceded the first reported peaks of COVID-19. METHODS AND FINDINGS We used data from the World Health Organization's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System to evaluate time series outliers in influenza-negative ILI. Using automated autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series outlier detection models and baseline influenza-negative ILI training data from 2015-2019, we analyzed 8,792 country-weeks across 28 countries to identify the first week in 2020 with a positive outlier in influenza-negative ILI. We present the difference in weeks between identified outliers and the first reported COVID-19 peaks in these 28 countries with high levels of data completeness for influenza surveillance data and the highest number of reported COVID-19 cases globally in 2020. To account for missing data, we also performed a sensitivity analysis using linear interpolation for missing observations of influenza-negative ILI. In 16 of the 28 countries (57%) included in this study, we identified positive outliers in cases of influenza-negative ILI that predated the first reported COVID-19 peak in each country; the average lag between the first positive ILI outlier and the reported COVID-19 peak was 13.3 weeks (standard deviation 6.8). In our primary analysis, the earliest outliers occurred during the week of January 13, 2020, in Peru, the Philippines, Poland, and Spain. Using linear interpolation for missing data, the earliest outliers were detected during the weeks beginning December 30, 2019, and January 20, 2020, in Poland and Peru, respectively. This contrasts with the reported COVID-19 peaks, which occurred on April 6 in Poland and June 1 in Peru. In many low- and middle-income countries in particular, the lag between detected outliers and COVID-19 peaks exceeded 12 weeks. These outliers may represent undetected spread of SARS-CoV-2, although a limitation of this study is that we could not evaluate SARS-CoV-2 positivity. CONCLUSIONS Using an automated system of influenza-negative ILI outlier monitoring may have informed countries of the spread of COVID-19 more than 13 weeks before the first reported COVID-19 peaks. This proof-of-concept paper suggests that a system of influenza-negative ILI outlier monitoring could have informed national and global responses to SARS-CoV-2 during the rapid spread of this novel pathogen in early 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie L. Cobb
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sigrid Collier
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Engi F. Attia
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Orvalho Augusto
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - T. Eoin West
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bradley H. Wagenaar
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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20
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Lai A, Tambuzzi S, Bergna A, Battistini A, Della Ventura C, Galli M, Zoja R, Zehender G, Cattaneo C. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and RNA on Autopsy Cases in the Pre-Pandemic Period in Milan (Italy). Front Microbiol 2022; 13:886317. [PMID: 35783409 PMCID: PMC9240701 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.886317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we analyzed blood samples obtained from 169 cadavers subjected to an autopsy from 1 October 2019 to 27 March 2020. The presence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) antibodies was searched by lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) and ELISA tests and the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was tested in blood and available lung tissues by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Five cases resulted in positives at the serological screening for anti-SARS-CoV-2. Three results were weakly positive for IgM while only one showed strong reactivity for IgG antibodies. The fifth subject (who died in December 2019) resulted positive for the ELISA test. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA resulted in positive only in the blood and lung tissues of such cases. These data suggest that cadaveric blood may be a suitable substrate for the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection; moreover, they extend the observations of sporadic cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in North Italy prior to the first confirmed cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Lai
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessia Lai
| | - Stefano Tambuzzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bergna
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Battistini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Della Ventura
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Galli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Zoja
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Cattaneo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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21
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Tian J, Sun J, Li D, Wang N, Wang L, Zhang C, Meng X, Ji X, Suchard MA, Zhang X, Lai A, Su S, Veit M. Emerging viruses: Cross-species transmission of coronaviruses, filoviruses, henipaviruses, and rotaviruses from bats. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110969. [PMID: 35679864 PMCID: PMC9148931 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases, especially if caused by bat-borne viruses, significantly affect public health and the global economy. There is an urgent need to understand the mechanism of interspecies transmission, particularly to humans. Viral genetics; host factors, including polymorphisms in the receptors; and ecological, environmental, and population dynamics are major parameters to consider. Here, we describe the taxonomy, geographic distribution, and unique traits of bats associated with their importance as virus reservoirs. Then, we summarize the origin, intermediate hosts, and the current understanding of interspecies transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, Nipah, Hendra, Ebola, Marburg virus, and rotaviruses. Finally, the molecular interactions of viral surface proteins with host cell receptors are examined, and a comparison of these interactions in humans, intermediate hosts, and bats is conducted. This uncovers adaptive mutations in virus spike protein that facilitate cross-species transmission and risk factors associated with the emergence of novel viruses from bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 678 Haping Road, Harbin 150069, China.
| | - Jiumeng Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Dongyan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ningning Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Qinghua Donglu, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaorong Meng
- Institute for Virology, Center for Infection Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiang Ji
- Department of Mathematics, School of Science & Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St., Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Marc A Suchard
- Departments of Biomathematics, Human Genetics and Biostatistics, David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen Hall 885 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Alexander Lai
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Kentucky State University, 400 East Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
| | - Shuo Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Michael Veit
- Institute for Virology, Center for Infection Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
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22
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Rubio-Tomás T, Skouroliakou M, Ntountaniotis D. Lockdown Due to COVID-19 and Its Consequences on Diet, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Other Aspects of Daily Life Worldwide: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6832. [PMID: 35682411 PMCID: PMC9180681 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus, termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is responsible for the disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Besides the important rates of mortality and morbidity directly attributed to the infection itself, many studies detected an important shift towards mostly unhealthy lifestyle patterns in previously healthy non-infected populations all around the world. Although most of the changes in lifestyle had or will have a negative impact on general population health status, some findings are encouraging. Notwithstanding that there was an obvious necessity for governments to apply national lockdowns, it is also necessary to identify and comprehend the consequences they have caused. A narrative literature review was performed, based on scientific articles and previous reviews. An accurate description of changes in eating habits and alcohol consumption, physical activity, mental health, daily routines, economic impacts, and broader effects on society is provided for each continent and different age groups through this review. The volume of selected scientific surveys encompasses approximately 400,000 persons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Skouroliakou
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 17671 Athens, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Ntountaniotis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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23
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Li J, Jia H, Tian M, Wu N, Yang X, Qi J, Ren W, Li F, Bian H. SARS-CoV-2 and Emerging Variants: Unmasking Structure, Function, Infection, and Immune Escape Mechanisms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:869832. [PMID: 35646741 PMCID: PMC9134119 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.869832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
As of April 1, 2022, over 468 million COVID-19 cases and over 6 million deaths have been confirmed globally. Unlike the common coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has highly contagious and attracted a high level of concern worldwide. Through the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins, we can gain a deeper understanding of structure-function relationships, viral infection mechanisms, and viable strategies for antiviral therapy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the first widely acknowledged SARS-CoV-2 receptor, but researches have shown that there are additional co-receptors that can facilitate the entry of SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans. We have performed an in-depth review of published papers, searching for co-receptors or other auxiliary membrane proteins that enhance viral infection, and analyzing pertinent pathogenic mechanisms. The genome, and especially the spike gene, undergoes mutations at an abnormally high frequency during virus replication and/or when it is transmitted from one individual to another. We summarized the main mutant strains currently circulating global, and elaborated the structural feature for increased infectivity and immune evasion of variants. Meanwhile, the principal purpose of the review is to update information on the COVID-19 outbreak. Many countries have novel findings on the early stage of the epidemic, and accruing evidence has rewritten the timeline of the outbreak, triggering new thinking about the origin and spread of COVID-19. It is anticipated that this can provide further insights for future research and global epidemic prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Feifei Li
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Hongjun Bian
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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24
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García-García D, Morales E, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Vigo I, Fonfría ES, Bordehore C. Identification of the first COVID-19 infections in the US using a retrospective analysis (REMEDID). Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2022; 42:100517. [PMID: 35934325 PMCID: PMC9087146 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2022.100517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Accurate detection of early COVID-19 cases is crucial to reduce infections and deaths, however, it remains a challenge. Here, we used the results from a seroprevalence study in 50 US states to apply our Retrospective Methodology to Estimate Daily Infections from Deaths (REMEDID) with the aim of analyzing the initial spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections across the US. Our analysis revealed that the virus likely entered the country through California on December 28, 2019, which corresponds to 16 days prior to the officially recognized entry date established by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, the REMEDID algorithm provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 entered, on average, a month earlier than previously reflected in official data for each US state. Collectively, our mathematical modeling provides more accurate estimates of the initial COVID-19 cases in the US, and has the ability to be extrapolated to other countries and used to retrospectively track the progress of the pandemic. The use of approaches such as REMEDID are highly recommended to better understand the early stages of an outbreak, which will enable health authorities to improve mitigation and preventive measures in the future.
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25
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Villanueva‐Saz S, Giner J, Tobajas AP, Pérez MD, González‐Ramírez AM, Macías‐León J, González A, Verde M, Yzuel A, Hurtado‐Guerrero R, Pardo J, Santiago L, Paño‐Pardo JR, Ruíz H, Lacasta DM, Sánchez L, Marteles D, Gracia AP, Fernández A. Serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 and co-infections in stray cats in Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:1056-1064. [PMID: 33686768 PMCID: PMC8250530 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan in 2019 and spread rapidly to the rest of the world causing the pandemic disease named coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Little information is known about the impact this virus can cause upon domestic and stray animals. The potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 has become of great interest in cats due to transmission among domestic cats and the severe phenotypes described recently in a domestic cat. In this context, there is a public health warning that needs to be investigated in relation with the epidemiological role of this virus in stray cats. Consequently, in order to know the impact of the possible transmission chain, blood samples were obtained from 114 stray cats in the city of Zaragoza (Spain) and tested for SARS-CoV-2 and other selected pathogens susceptible to immunosuppression including Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from January to October 2020. Four cats (3.51%), based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen, were seroreactive to SARS-CoV-2. T. gondii, L. infantum, FeLV and FIV seroprevalence was 12.28%, 16.67%, 4.39% and 19.30%, respectively. Among seropositive cats to SARS-CoV-2, three cats were also seropositive to other pathogens including antibodies detected against T. gondii and FIV (n = 1); T. gondii (n = 1); and FIV and L. infantum (n = 1). The subjects giving positive for SARS-CoV-2 were captured in urban areas of the city in different months: January 2020 (2/4), February 2020 (1/4) and July 2020 (1/4). This study revealed, for the first time, the exposure of stray cats to SARS-CoV-2 in Spain and the existence of concomitant infections with other pathogens including T. gondii, L. infantum and FIV, suggesting that immunosuppressed animals might be especially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva‐Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Department of Pharmacology and PhysiologyVeterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
| | - Jacobo Giner
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Ana Pilar Tobajas
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - María Dolores Pérez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Andrés Manuel González‐Ramírez
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI)Edificio I+DCampus Rio EbroUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Javier Macías‐León
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
| | - Ana González
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Maite Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Andrés Yzuel
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Ramón Hurtado‐Guerrero
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI)Edificio I+DCampus Rio EbroUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID)ZaragozaSpain
- Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzada (LMA)Edificio I+D, Campus Rio EbroUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Copenhagen Center for GlycomicsCopenhagenDenmark
- Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineSchool of DentistryUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Julián Pardo
- Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID)ZaragozaSpain
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón)ZaragozaSpain
- Department of MicrobiologyPediatrics, Radiology and Public HealthZaragoza University of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | | | - José Ramón Paño‐Pardo
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón)ZaragozaSpain
- Infectious Disease DepartmentUniversity Hospital Lozano BlesaZaragozaSpain
| | - Héctor Ruíz
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Delia María Lacasta
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Lourdes Sánchez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Ana Pilar Gracia
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‐IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza‐CITA)ZaragozaSpain
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
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26
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Ruan Y, Wen H, Hou M, He Z, Lu X, Xue Y, He X, Zhang YP, Wu CI. The twin-beginnings of COVID-19 in Asia and Europe-one prevails quickly. Natl Sci Rev 2022; 9:nwab223. [PMID: 35497643 PMCID: PMC9046579 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwab223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the spread of SARS-CoV-2, there have been multiple waves of replacement between strains, each of which having a distinct set of mutations. The first wave is a group of four mutations (C241T, C3037T, C14408T and A23403G [this being the amino acid change D614G]; all designated 0 to 1 below). This DG (D614G) group, fixed at the start of the pandemic, is the foundation of all subsequent waves of strains. Curiously, the DG group is absent in early Asian samples but present (and likely common) in Europe from the beginning. European data show that the high fitness of DG1111 requires the synergistic effect of all four mutations. However, the European strains would have had no time to evolve the four DG mutations (0 to 1), had they come directly from the early Asian DG0000 strain. Very likely, the European DG1111 strain had acquired the highly adaptive DG mutations in pre-pandemic Europe and had been spreading in parallel with the Asian strains. Two recent reports further support this twin-beginning interpretation. There was a period of two-way spread between Asia and Europe but, by May 2020, the European strains had supplanted the Asian strains globally. This large-scale replacement of one set of mutations for another has since been replayed many times as COVID-19 progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongsen Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Haijun Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Mei Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Ziwen He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Xuemei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650223, China
| | - Yongbiao Xue
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China National Centre for Bioinformation, Beijing100101, China
| | - Xionglei He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650223, China
| | - Chung-I Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China National Centre for Bioinformation, Beijing100101, China
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637, USA
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27
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Rizzo S, Catanese C, Puligheddu C, Epistolio S, Ramelli G, Frattini M, Pereira Mestre R, Nadarajah N, Rezzonico E, Magoga F, Milan L, Del Grande F, Giovanella L, Ceriani L. CT evaluation of lung infiltrates in the two months preceding the Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Canton Ticino (Switzerland): were there suspicious cases before the official first case? LA RADIOLOGIA MEDICA 2022; 127:360-368. [PMID: 35247133 PMCID: PMC8897725 DOI: 10.1007/s11547-022-01466-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary infiltrates with computed tomography (CT) appearance compatible with infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in Canton Ticino in the 2 months preceding the first official case. Secondary aims were to compare the classification of infiltrates in the same time frame in 2020 and 2019; to compare the number of chest CT scans in the same period; to search for pathological confirmation of the virus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chest CT scans performed between January 1 and February 24 in 2019 and 2020 were collected and classified by COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). Pathological presence of the virus was searched for when appropriate material was available. RESULTS The final cohort included 881 patients. Among the CO-RADS 3 and 4 categories, 30 patients had pneumonitis of unknown etiology. Pathological specimens were available in six patients but they were negative for COVID-19. CONCLUSION Before the first official case of COVID-19 infection, in Canton Ticino there were about 30 cases of pneumonitis of uncertain origin, with CT appearance compatible with infection by COVID-19, but with no confirmation of the disease. The number of chest CT scans in the first two months of 2020 was > 12% compared to 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Rizzo
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland.
- Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.
| | - Carola Catanese
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Carla Puligheddu
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Samantha Epistolio
- Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Ramelli
- Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Milo Frattini
- Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo Pereira Mestre
- Service of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Navarajah Nadarajah
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Ermidio Rezzonico
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Magoga
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Milan
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Del Grande
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
- Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Luca Giovanella
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
- University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luca Ceriani
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
- Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
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Stevenson M. CROI 2022: summary of basic science research in HIV and SARS-CoV-2. TOPICS IN ANTIVIRAL MEDICINE 2022; 30:419-425. [PMID: 36346700 PMCID: PMC9306690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2022, which was held as a virtual conference, continues to serve as the preeminent forum that features research advances in HIV-1 and its associated coinfections. The conference has extended its area of coverage to include research advances in SARS- CoV-2. As pointed out in the presentation from Hatziioannou in the New Investigators workshop, there has been an explosion in research activity on SARS-CoV-2 that has eclipsed that for HIV-1. In the past 12 months, there were approximately 6600 publications on HIV-1 and approximately 64,000 on SARS-CoV-2. Although these numbers include review articles, they reveal the tremendous response by researchers to the existential threats posed by lentiviruses and coronaviruses. This poses challenges for any conference committee tasked with selecting abstracts for presentation from the large number submitted for consideration. CROI organizers have consistently been able to assemble a program that, through invited presentations, abstract-driven talks, posters, interactive sessions, workshops, and symposia, showcases the most recent research advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Stevenson
- Write to Mario Stevenson, PhD, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Life Science Technology Park, 1951 NW 7th Avenue, Rm 2331B, Suite 200, Miami, FL, 33136, or email
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Camacho Moll ME, Salinas Martínez AM, Tovar Cisneros B, García Onofre JI, Navarrete Floriano G, Bermúdez de León M. Extension and Severity of Self-Reported Side Effects of Seven COVID-19 Vaccines in Mexican Population. Front Public Health 2022; 10:834744. [PMID: 35359754 PMCID: PMC8964147 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.834744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A few studies examined the comparative side effects of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines. We compared the extension and severity of self-reported side effects of seven COVID-19 vaccines [BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences), Gam-COVID-Vac (Gamaleya's Sputnik V), Ad5-nCoV (CanSinoBIO), and Ad26.CoV2.S (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen)] in the Mexican population. We also evaluated the association of type of vaccine, sex, age, comorbidity, and history of allergies to the extent and severity of side effects. This was a cross-sectional study carried out online between August 12 and September 3, 2021 in Mexico. The first inclusion criterion was to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the second, being at least 18 years old. The survey link was distributed via multiple social media platforms. We questioned about the type of vaccine and symptoms based on short-term side effects reported in the literature. Side effect extension was classified as local, systemic, or both. We asked about the need to take medicine, stop activities/miss work, or seek medical attention. Then, a severity index was constructed based on responses. Descriptive and stepwise multivariate logistic ordinal regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for each outcome adjusted by potential confounders. The mean age was 38.9 ± 11.0 years (n = 4,024). Prevalence of at least one side effect varied between vaccines and by a number of doses. At dose 1, ChAdOx1 was the vaccine with the highest rate of at least one side effect (85%) followed by Gam-COVID-Vac (80%). Both were associated to greater extension (adjusted OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.16, 2.96 and adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.76, 3.29, respectively) and severity of side effects (adjusted OR 4.32, 95% CI 3.73, 5.00 and adjusted OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.28, 3.94, respectively). Young age (<50 years), female sex, comorbidity, and history of allergies were associated with greater extension and severity, independent of the type of vaccine and potential confounders. At dose 2, mRNA-1273 was the vaccine with the highest rate of side effects (88%) and the only vaccine associated to greater extension (adjusted OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.59, 5.21) and severity of symptoms (adjusted OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.82, 5.43). Continuous studies are necessary to acknowledge more post-vaccine symptoms in different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Elena Camacho Moll
- Department of Molecular Biology, Northeast Biomedical Research Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Monterrey, Mexico
- Health Sciences Division, Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Personalized Medicine, Universidad de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
- *Correspondence: María Elena Camacho Moll
| | - Ana María Salinas Martínez
- Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Monterrey, Mexico
- School of Public Health and Nutrition, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
- Ana María Salinas Martínez
| | | | | | | | - Mario Bermúdez de León
- Department of Molecular Biology, Northeast Biomedical Research Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Monterrey, Mexico
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Canuti M, Bianchi S, Kolbl O, Pond SLK, Kumar S, Gori M, Fappani C, Colzani D, Borghi E, Zuccotti G, Raviglione MC, Tanzi E, Amendola A. Waiting for the truth: is reluctance in accepting an early origin hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2 delaying our understanding of viral emergence? BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e008386. [PMID: 35296465 PMCID: PMC8927931 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, key questions about the emergence of its aetiological agent (SARS-CoV-2) remain a matter of considerable debate. Identifying when SARS-CoV-2 began spreading among people is one of those questions. Although the current canonically accepted timeline hypothesises viral emergence in Wuhan, China, in November or December 2019, a growing body of diverse studies provides evidence that the virus may have been spreading worldwide weeks, or even months, prior to that time. However, the hypothesis of earlier SARS-CoV-2 circulation is often dismissed with prejudicial scepticism and experimental studies pointing to early origins are frequently and speculatively attributed to false-positive tests. In this paper, we critically review current evidence that SARS-CoV-2 had been circulating prior to December of 2019, and emphasise how, despite some scientific limitations, this hypothesis should no longer be ignored and considered sufficient to warrant further larger-scale studies to determine its veracity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Canuti
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Bianchi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Otto Kolbl
- Faculty of Arts, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sergei L Kosakovsky Pond
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Excellence in Genome Medicine and Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maria Gori
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Fappani
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Colzani
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Borghi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Pediatric Research Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario C Raviglione
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research in Health Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tanzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Amendola
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Coordinated Research Center "EpiSoMI", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Bonguili NCB, Fritz M, Lenguiya LH, Mayengue PI, Koukouikila-Koussounda F, Dossou-Yovo LR, Badzi CN, Leroy EM, Niama FR. Early Circulation of SARS-CoV-2, Congo, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:878-880. [PMID: 35180374 PMCID: PMC8962888 DOI: 10.3201/eid2804.212476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine when severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 arrived in Congo, we retrospectively antibody tested 937 blood samples collected during September 2019–February 2020. Seropositivity significantly increased from 1% in December 2019 to 5.3% in February 2020, before the first officially reported case in March 2020, suggesting unexpected early virus circulation.
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Koltai M, Warsame A, Bashiir F, Freemantle T, Reeve C, Williams C, Jit M, Flasche S, Davies NG, Aweis A, Ahmed M, Dalmar A, Checchi F. Date of introduction and epidemiologic patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Mogadishu, Somalia: estimates from transmission modelling of satellite-based excess mortality data in 2020. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:255. [PMID: 35299709 PMCID: PMC8902262 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17247.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In countries with weak surveillance systems, confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths are likely to underestimate the pandemic's death toll. Many countries also have incomplete vital registration systems, hampering excess mortality estimation. Here, we fitted a dynamic transmission model to satellite imagery data of cemeteries in Mogadishu, Somalia during 2020 to estimate the date of introduction and other epidemiologic parameters of the early spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in this low-income, crisis-affected setting. Methods: We performed Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fitting with an age-structured compartmental COVID-19 model to provide median estimates and credible intervals for the date of introduction, the basic reproduction number ( R 0 ) and the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) up to August 2020. Results: Under the assumption that excess deaths in Mogadishu March-August 2020 were attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infections, we arrived at median estimates of November-December 2019 for the date of introduction and low R 0 estimates (1.4-1.7) reflecting the slow and early rise and long plateau of excess deaths. The date of introduction, the amount of external seeding, the infection fatality rate (IFR) and the effectiveness of NPIs are correlated parameters and not separately identifiable in a narrow range from deaths data. Nevertheless, to obtain introduction dates no earlier than November 2019 a higher population-wide IFR (≥0.7%) had to be assumed than obtained by applying age-specific IFRs from high-income countries to Somalia's age structure. Conclusions: Model fitting of excess mortality data across a range of plausible values of the IFR and the amount of external seeding suggests an early SARS-CoV-2 introduction event may have occurred in Somalia in November-December 2019. Transmissibility in the first epidemic wave was estimated to be lower than in European settings. Alternatively, there was another, unidentified source of sustained excess mortality in Mogadishu from March to August 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaly Koltai
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Farah Bashiir
- Somali Disaster Resilience Institute, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | | | | | | | - Mark Jit
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stefan Flasche
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - CMMID COVID-19 working group
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Somali Disaster Resilience Institute, Mogadishu, Somalia
- Satellite Applications Catapult, Didcot, UK
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Himmel M, Frey S. SARS-CoV-2: International Investigation Under the WHO or BWC. Front Public Health 2022; 9:636679. [PMID: 35186855 PMCID: PMC8850392 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.636679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, the novel and highly infectious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 caused a worldwide outbreak of a severe respiratory infectious disease, known as COVID-19. The disease has started in China and turned into one of the worst pandemics in human history. Due to the very fast global spread of the pathogen, COVID-19 is a great challenge for the Public Health Systems. It had led to a variety of severe limitations in private and public life worldwide. There is a lively public debate about possible sources of SARS-CoV-2. This article aims at providing a better understanding of controversial biological and political issues regarding COVID-19. Recommendations are made for possible actions under the umbrella of the World Health Organization and in respect to the Biological Weapons Convention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Himmel
- Department for Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute for Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Frey
- Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection, Munster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stefan Frey
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Paixao J, Galangue M, Gaston C, Carralero R, Lino C, Júlio G, David Z, Francisco M, Sebastião CS, Sacomboio ENM, Morais J, Francisco NM. Early Evidence of Circulating SARS-CoV-2 in Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Measles Patients, September 2019–February 2020. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:533-544. [PMID: 35221698 PMCID: PMC8865870 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The global emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged healthcare and rapidly spread over the globe. Early detection of new infections is crucial in the control of emerging diseases. Evidence of early recorded COVID-19 cases outside China has been documented in various countries. In this study, we aimed to identify the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection circulation by retrospectively analyzing sera of measles patients, weeks before the reported first COVID-19 cases in Angola. Materials and Methods We examined the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based assay on a combined two-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay method. In total, we received 568 study patients with blood specimens collected from 23 September 2019 to 28 February 2020, 442 sera samples that met the criteria of the study were withdrawn and selected from the overall 568 received samples. In this study, we considered seropositives, patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies with the index value >1. Results Of the 442 sera samples that met the criteria of the study, 204 were measles seropositive. Forty out of 204 were confirmed reactive to SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins using IgG and IgM more than 2 weeks before the first reported case in Angola. The humoral response analysis showed significant differences (p = 0.01) between the IgG and IgM indexes in the unvaccinated measles patients. Similarly, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was seen between the IgG and IgM indexes in the vaccinated measles patients. Conclusion Here, using the humoral response analysis, we report the identification of early circulation SARS-CoV-2 infection weeks before the first recognized cases in the Republic of Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Paixao
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Galangue
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Celestina Gaston
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Raísa Carralero
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Celestina Lino
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Gracieth Júlio
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Zinga David
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Moises Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Cruz S Sebastião
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Euclides N M Sacomboio
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Ngiambudulu M Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Correspondence: Ngiambudulu M Francisco, Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Rua: Amílcar Cabral, No. 96, por trás do Hospital Josina Machel, P.O. Box: 3635, Luanda, Angola, Tel +244 931 36 1717, Email
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35
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Mohideen MM, Liu Y. Comments on COVID-19, a double-edged sword for the environment: a review on the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:10867-10869. [PMID: 35022976 PMCID: PMC8754533 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17979-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamedazeem M Mohideen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Few SARS-CoV-2 infections detected in Newfoundland and Labrador in the absence of Public Health Laboratory-based confirmation. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262957. [PMID: 35089949 PMCID: PMC8797227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective
To assess the incidence of COVID-19 infection in the absence of a confirmatory test in persons suspecting they contracted COVID-19 and elucidate reasons for their belief.
Methods
We recruited persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and persons who believed they may have contracted COVID-19 between December, 2019 and April, 2021 into a study of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. An intake questionnaire captured their perceived risk factors for exposure and symptoms experienced, including symptom duration and severity. ELISA testing against multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens was done to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. No participant had received COVID-19 vaccination prior to the time of testing.
Results
The vast majority of study subjects without Public Health confirmation of infection had no detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Suspected infection with SARS-CoV-2 generally involved experiencing symptoms common to many other respiratory infections. Unusually severe or persistent symptoms often supported suspicion of infection with SARS-CoV-2 as did travel or contact with travelers from outside Newfoundland and Labrador. Rare cases in which antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected despite negative results of Public Health testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA involved persons in close contact with confirmed cases.
Conclusions
Broad public awareness and declaration of pandemic status in March, 2020 contributed to the perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador from late 2019 to April 2021 and raised expectation of its severity. Serological testing is useful to diagnose past infection with SARS-CoV-2 to accurately estimate population exposure rates.
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Lukowsky LR, Der-Martirosian C, Steers WN, Kamble KS, Dobalian A. Using an Administrative and Clinical Database to Determine the Early Spread of COVID-19 at the US Department of Veterans Affairs during the Beginning of the 2019-2020 Flu Season: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study. Viruses 2022; 14:200. [PMID: 35215795 PMCID: PMC8879908 DOI: 10.3390/v14020200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies examining the early spread of COVID-19 have used influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) to determine the early spread of COVID-19. We used COVID-19 case definition to identify COVID-like symptoms (CLS) independently of other influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). METHODS Using data from Emergency Department (ED) visits at VA Medical Centers in CA, TX, and FL, we compared weekly rates of CLS, ILIs, and non-influenza ILIs encounters during five consecutive flu seasons (2015-2020) and estimated the risk of developing each illness during the first 23 weeks of the 2019-2020 season compared to previous seasons. RESULTS Patients with CLS were significantly more likely to visit the ED during the first 23 weeks of the 2019-2020 compared to prior seasons, while ED visits for influenza and non-influenza ILIs did not differ substantially. Adjusted CLS risk was significantly lower for all seasons relative to the 2019-2020 season: RR15-16 = 0.72, 0.75, 0.72; RR16-17 = 0.81, 0.77, 0.79; RR17-18 = 0.80, 0.89, 0.83; RR18-19 = 0.82, 0.96, 0.81, in CA, TX, and FL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The observed increase in ED visits for CLS indicates the likely spread of COVID-19 in the US earlier than previously reported. VA data could potentially help identify emerging infectious diseases and supplement existing syndromic surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia R. Lukowsky
- Veteran Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), US Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA 91343, USA; (C.D.-M.); (W.N.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Claudia Der-Martirosian
- Veteran Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), US Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA 91343, USA; (C.D.-M.); (W.N.S.); (A.D.)
| | - William Neil Steers
- Veteran Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), US Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA 91343, USA; (C.D.-M.); (W.N.S.); (A.D.)
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kiran S. Kamble
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Veteran Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), US Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA 91343, USA; (C.D.-M.); (W.N.S.); (A.D.)
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
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Bhuiyan AA, Brahmachari S, Ripa IJ, Noor R. Overview of dreadful consequences of SARS-CoV-2 invasion in Italy from March 2020 to March 2022. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2022; 46:176. [PMID: 35756396 PMCID: PMC9207835 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-022-00867-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unpredicted pandemic disease COVID-19 first flared up adversely in Europe by imparting interminable force of infected and fatality cases to Italy. In late February 2020, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in northern Italy and swiftly proliferated to the entire country, albeit continuous to date (23 March 2022) with a lesser extent of deadliness. Current review focused on the invasions and the associated consequences by SARS-CoV-2 during the period of March 2020-March 2022. MAIN BODY OF THE ABSTRACT Initially, the lethality and transmissibility of the novel virus made Italy stunned within 1 month, the number of death cases reached 12,428 at the end of March 2020. The Italian Government announced an immediate emergency phase in entire country, educational institutions to local businesses, manufacturing works, cultural activities to elective activities were rescinded and all the hospitals to morgues were swamped, ensuing that fear of epidemic was impended. Besides, the Italian National Health System and Service coordinated massive public health interventions and conferred unprecedented efforts to limit the high mortality rate of the first wave of infection. Amidst 2 years of epidemic (as of 23 March 2022), Italy has documented 14,070,450 (23.74% of the population) confirmed infected cases, 12,685,306 (21.41% of the population) healed cases, 158,254 death cases (0.27% of the population) and ranking 9th worldwide in the number of deaths. SHORT CONCLUSION Based on publicly available Italian Ministry of Health COVID-19 data, current review has comprehended region-wise total infected cases, death cases and healed cases for three consecutive years 2020-2022 to foresee different patterns of the regional outbreak and gradual subservience. At a glance, we highlighted the overview of the exhaustion and exertion of COVID-19 crisis throughout the periods in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Akter Bhuiyan
- Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Industrial Biotechnologies, Universita Degli Studi di Milano, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Sreyashi Brahmachari
- Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Industrial Biotechnologies, Universita Degli Studi di Milano, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Israt Jahan Ripa
- Medical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical, Veterinary and Medical Biotechnologies, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rashed Noor
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), School of Environment and Life Sciences (SELS), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Plot 16, Block B, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229 Bangladesh
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Liu W, Liu P, Liu WJ, Wang Q, Tong Y, Gao GF. Origins of HIV, HCoV-HKU1, SFTSV, and MERS-CoV and Beyond. China CDC Wkly 2022; 4:823-827. [PMID: 36284537 PMCID: PMC9547735 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2022.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Peipei Liu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - William J Liu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Qihui Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Yigang Tong,
| | - George F. Gao
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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40
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Laliotis I, Minos D. Religion, social interactions, and COVID-19 incidence in Western Germany. EUROPEAN ECONOMIC REVIEW 2022; 141:103992. [PMID: 34876706 PMCID: PMC8641103 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2021.103992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates how social interactions, as shaped by religious denomination, are related to COVID-19 incidence and associated mortality in Western Germany. We observe that the number of infections and deaths during the early pandemic phase were much higher in predominantly Catholic counties with arguably stronger family and social ties. The relationship was confirmed at the county level through numerous robustness checks, and after controlling for a series of characteristics and county fixed effects. At the individual level, we confirmed that Catholics, relative to non-Catholics, have tighter and more frequent interactions with their family and friends. Moreover, the intensity of social interaction was able to partially explain the relationship between COVID-19 incidence and share of Catholics at the county level. Our results highlight the number of dimensions that have to be taken into account when designing and implementing mitigation measures in the early stages of disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Laliotis
- University of Peloponnese, Department of Economics, Greece
- City University of London, Department of Economics, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitrios Minos
- King's College London, King's Business School, United Kingdom
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Montomoli E, Apolone G, Manenti A, Boeri M, Suatoni P, Sabia F, Marchianò A, Bollati V, Pastorino U, Sozzi G. Timeline of SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Italy: Results from an Independent Serological Retesting. Viruses 2021; 14:61. [PMID: 35062265 PMCID: PMC8778320 DOI: 10.3390/v14010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The massive emergence of COVID-19 cases in the first phase of pandemic within an extremely short period of time suggest that an undetected earlier circulation of SARS-CoV-2 might have occurred. Given the importance of this evidence, an independent evaluation was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to test a subset of samples selected on the level of positivity in ELISA assays (positive, low positive, negative) detected in our previous study of prepandemic samples collected in Italy. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were blindly retested by two independent centers in 29 blood samples collected in the prepandemic period in Italy, 29 samples collected one year before and 11 COVID-19 control samples. The methodologies used included IgG-RBD/IgM-RBD ELISA assays, a qualitative micro-neutralization CPE-based assay, a multiplex IgG protein array, an ELISA IgM kit (Wantai), and a plaque-reduction neutralization test. The results suggest the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in some samples collected in the prepandemic period, with the oldest samples found to be positive for IgM by both laboratories collected on 10 October 2019 (Lombardy), 11 November 2019 (Lombardy) and 5 February 2020 (Lazio), the latter with neutralizing antibodies. The detection of IgM and/or IgG binding and neutralizing antibodies was strongly dependent on the different serological assays and thresholds employed, and they were not detected in control samples collected one year before. These findings, although gathered in a small and selected set of samples, highlight the importance of harmonizing serological assays for testing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and may contribute to a better understanding of future virus dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Montomoli
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53200 Siena, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Apolone
- Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Manenti
- VisMederi S.r.l., 53200 Siena, Italy;
- VisMederi Research S.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Mattia Boeri
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Paola Suatoni
- Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (F.S.)
| | - Federica Sabia
- Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (F.S.)
| | - Alfonso Marchianò
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET-Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab., University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy;
| | - Ugo Pastorino
- Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (F.S.)
| | - Gabriella Sozzi
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
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Mainardi PH, Bidoia ED. Challenges and emerging perspectives of an international SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological surveillance in wastewater. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20210163. [PMID: 34878048 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120210163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a new type of coronavirus capable to infect humans and cause the severe acute respiratory syndrome COVID-19, a disease that has been causing huge impacts across the Earth. COVID-19 patients, including mild, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, were often seen to contain infectious fragments of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine samples. Therefore, studies to detect the new coronavirus in wastewater, which collect and concentrate human excreta, have been extremely useful as a viral tracking tool in communities. This type of monitoring, in addition to serve as a non-invasive early warning of COVID-19 outbreaks, would provide better predictions about the SARS-CoV-2 spread and strongly contribute to maintenance the global health. Although current methods to detect viruses in wastewater, based on molecular RT-PCR and RT-qPCR techniques, were considered as reliable and provided accurate qualitative and quantitative results, they have been facing considerable challenges concerning the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. In this review, the methods used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the challenges to implement an international viral monitoring network were described. The article also addressed the emerging perspectives associated with the SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological surveillance in this environment and the importance of a worldwide collaboration to generate and disseminate the detection results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H Mainardi
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho /UNESP, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Ederio D Bidoia
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho /UNESP, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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Panatto D, Orsi A, Pennati BM, Lai PL, Mosca S, Bruzzone B, Caligiuri P, Napoli C, Bertamino E, Orsi GB, Manini I, Loconsole D, Centrone F, Pandolfi E, Ciofi Degli Atti ML, Concato C, Linardos G, Onetti Muda A, Raponi M, Piccioni L, Rizzo C, Chironna M, Icardi G. No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in five Italian hospitals from 1st November 2019 to 29th February 2020. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260947. [PMID: 34874956 PMCID: PMC8653811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND On 9th January 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) as the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Identifying the first appearance of virus is of epidemiological importance to tracking and mapping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country. We therefore conducted a retrospective observational study to detect SARS-CoV-2 in oropharyngeal samples collected from hospitalized patients with a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) enrolled in the DRIVE (Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness) study in five Italian hospitals (CIRI-IT BIVE hospitals network) (1st November 2019 - 29th February 2020). OBJECTIVES To acquire new information on the real trend in SARS-CoV-2 infection during pandemic phase I and to determine the possible early appearance of the virus in Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples were tested for influenza [RT-PCR assay (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Yam, B/Vic)] in accordance with the DRIVE study protocol. Subsequently, swabs underwent molecular testing for SARS-COV-2. [one-step real-time multiplex retro-transcription (RT) PCR]. RESULTS In the 1683 samples collected, no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 was found. Moreover, 28.3% (477/1683) of swabs were positive for influenza viruses, the majority being type A (358 vs 119 type B). A/H3N2 was predominant among influenza A viruses (55%); among influenza B viruses, B/Victoria was prevalent. The highest influenza incidence rate was reported in patients aged 0-17 years (40.3%) followed by those aged 18-64 years (24.4%) and ≥65 years (14.8%). CONCLUSIONS In Italy, some studies have shown the early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in northern regions, those most severely affected during phase I of the pandemic. In central and southern regions, by contrast no early circulation of the virus was registered. These results are in line with ours. These findings highlight the need to continue to carry out retrospective studies, in order to understand the epidemiology of the novel coronavirus, to better identify the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in comparison with other acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), and to evaluate the real burden of COVID-19 on the healthcare system.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- COVID-19/diagnosis
- COVID-19/virology
- Female
- Hospitals
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/isolation & purification
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/isolation & purification
- Influenza B virus/genetics
- Influenza B virus/isolation & purification
- Influenza, Human/epidemiology
- Influenza, Human/pathology
- Influenza, Human/virology
- Italy/epidemiology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- RNA, Viral/metabolism
- Retrospective Studies
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/epidemiology
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/pathology
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/virology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Panatto
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
- Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marina Pennati
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Luigi Lai
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
| | - Stefano Mosca
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Christian Napoli
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine,
University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Battista Orsi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University La
Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Manini
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena,
Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Loconsole
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Centrone
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Chironna
- Hygiene Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Icardi
- Interuniversity Research Center on Influenza and Other Transmissible
Infections (CIRI-IT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa,
Italy
- Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy
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Singh S, McNab C, Olson RM, Bristol N, Nolan C, Bergstrøm E, Bartos M, Mabuchi S, Panjabi R, Karan A, Abdalla SM, Bonk M, Jamieson M, Werner GK, Nordström A, Legido-Quigley H, Phelan A. How an outbreak became a pandemic: a chronological analysis of crucial junctures and international obligations in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2021; 398:2109-2124. [PMID: 34762857 PMCID: PMC8575464 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01897-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, how and when evidence emerged, and the timing of local, national, regional, and global responses is essential to establish how an outbreak became a pandemic and to prepare for future health threats. With that aim, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response has developed a chronology of events, actions, and recommendations, from December, 2019, when the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in China, to the end of March, 2020, by which time the outbreak had spread extensively worldwide and had been characterised as a pandemic. Datapoints are based on two literature reviews, WHO documents and correspondence, submissions to the Panel, and an expert verification process. The retrospective analysis of the chronology shows a dedicated initial response by WHO and some national governments, but also aspects of the response that could have been quicker, including outbreak notifications under the International Health Regulations (IHR), presumption and confirmation of human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and, most importantly, the public health response of many national governments. The chronology also shows that some countries, largely those with previous experience with similar outbreaks, reacted quickly, even ahead of WHO alerts, and were more successful in initially containing the virus. Mapping actions against IHR obligations, the chronology shows where efficiency and accountability could be improved at local, national, and international levels to more quickly alert and contain health threats in the future. In particular, these improvements include necessary reforms to international law and governance for pandemic preparedness and response, including the IHR and a potential framework convention on pandemic preparedness and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhvir Singh
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Christine McNab
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rose McKeon Olson
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nellie Bristol
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cody Nolan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elin Bergstrøm
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Bartos
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; School of Sociology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Shunsuke Mabuchi
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raj Panjabi
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abraar Karan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salma M Abdalla
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mathias Bonk
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Margaret Jamieson
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - George K Werner
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anders Nordström
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
| | - Alexandra Phelan
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Davis JT, Chinazzi M, Perra N, Mu K, Pastore Y Piontti A, Ajelli M, Dean NE, Gioannini C, Litvinova M, Merler S, Rossi L, Sun K, Xiong X, Longini IM, Halloran ME, Viboud C, Vespignani A. Cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the first COVID-19 wave. Nature 2021; 600:127-132. [PMID: 34695837 PMCID: PMC8636257 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04130-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Considerable uncertainty surrounds the timeline of introductions and onsets of local transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) globally1-7. Although a limited number of SARS-CoV-2 introductions were reported in January and February 2020 (refs.8,9), the narrowness of the initial testing criteria, combined with a slow growth in testing capacity and porous travel screening10, left many countries vulnerable to unmitigated, cryptic transmission. Here we use a global metapopulation epidemic model to provide a mechanistic understanding of the early dispersal of infections and the temporal windows of the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 and onset of local transmission in Europe and the USA. We find that community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was likely to have been present in several areas of Europe and the USA by January 2020, and estimate that by early March, only 1 to 4 in 100 SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected by surveillance systems. The modelling results highlight international travel as the key driver of the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, with possible introductions and transmission events as early as December 2019 to January 2020. We find a heterogeneous geographic distribution of cumulative infection attack rates by 4 July 2020, ranging from 0.78% to 15.2% across US states and 0.19% to 13.2% in European countries. Our approach complements phylogenetic analyses and other surveillance approaches and provides insights that can be used to design innovative, model-driven surveillance systems that guide enhanced testing and response strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T Davis
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matteo Chinazzi
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicola Perra
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Networks and Urban Systems Centre, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Kunpeng Mu
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana Pastore Y Piontti
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marco Ajelli
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Natalie E Dean
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Maria Litvinova
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Kaiyuan Sun
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xinyue Xiong
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ira M Longini
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Halloran
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cécile Viboud
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Vespignani
- Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Butler D, Coyne D, Pomeroy L, Williams P, Holder P, Carterson A, Field S, Waters A, O'Flaherty N. Confirmed circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Irish blood donors prior to first national notification of infection. J Clin Virol 2021; 146:105045. [PMID: 34861600 PMCID: PMC8612762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.105045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Blood donor studies offer a unique opportunity to screen healthy populations for the presence of antibodies to emerging infections. We describe the use of blood donor specimens to track the ‘first-wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Methodology A random selection of donor samples received by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) between February and September 2020 (n = 8,509) were screened by multiple commercial SARs-CoV-2 antibody assays. The antibody detection rate was adjusted to the population to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Ireland. Results SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection rose significantly during the first peak of COVID-19 infection, increasing from 0.3% in March, to 2.9% in April (p < 0.0001, The first SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive donor samples were collected on the 17th February 2020, 2 weeks prior to the first official notification. This is the earliest serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the Irish population. Our results also show a significantly higher antibody prevalence in the Capital city and in donors less than 40 years of age. Conclusions The present study demonstrates evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody reactivity across all age groups and counties. The critical value of blood donor seroprevalence studies is apparent in this report which identified the earliest serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ireland, as well as documenting the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dearbhla Butler
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland
| | - Dermot Coyne
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland
| | - Louise Pomeroy
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland
| | - Pádraig Williams
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland
| | - Paul Holder
- National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Alex Carterson
- Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott park road, Abbott park, IL 60064, United States of America
| | - Stephen Field
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Allison Waters
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland
| | - Niamh O'Flaherty
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin, D08 NH5R, Ireland; National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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47
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Segev A, Hirsch-Klein E, Kotz G, Kamhi-Nesher S, Halimi S, Qashu K, Schreiber E, Krivoy A. Trends of new-onset psychosis or mania in psychiatric emergency departments during the COVID19 pandemic: a longitudinal comparative study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21002. [PMID: 34697335 PMCID: PMC8546064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00310-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID19 infection was associated with possible psychiatric manifestations, including psychosis and mania. In addition, psychiatric disorders might be triggered by severe psychological reactions to the pandemic or the measures taken to contain it. This study aimed to assess the trends of new-onset psychosis/mania during the pandemic timeline. Psychiatric emergency department records during January-July 2019 and 2020 of two regional mental health centers were manually examined. Cases of new-onset psychosis or mania were found in 326 out of 5161 records examined. The ratio of these cases increased by 45.5% in 2020 compared to 2019 (189 out of 2367, 137 out of 2479, respectively, p = 0.001). The peak increase was in April 2020 (9.4% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.015). There was no association between the rise of new-onset psychotic or manic episodes and national incidence of COVID19 cases, as observed during Israel 2nd wave. PCR tests were negative, except a single case. In this study, an increase in new-onset psychosis/mania was identified during the initial phase of the pandemic. Though causality could not be directly inferred, lack of infection symptoms, negative PCR testing and temporal distribution incongruent with COVID19 caseload did not support a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2. Alternative explanations are discussed, such as psychological reaction to stress and preventive measures, as well as case-shifting between different mental health settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviv Segev
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Alyat Hanoar 13th St., Hod Hasharon, Israel.
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Department of Psychosis, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Efrat Hirsch-Klein
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Alyat Hanoar 13th St., Hod Hasharon, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gershon Kotz
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Be'er Yaakov Mental Health Center, 1st Rabin Av., Be'er Ya'akov, Israel
| | - Shiri Kamhi-Nesher
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Geha Mental Health Center, 1st Helsinki St., Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Shikma Halimi
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Geha Mental Health Center, 1st Helsinki St., Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Khalil Qashu
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Alyat Hanoar 13th St., Hod Hasharon, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ephraim Schreiber
- Shalvata Mental Health Center, Alyat Hanoar 13th St., Hod Hasharon, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amir Krivoy
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Psychosis, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Geha Mental Health Center, 1st Helsinki St., Petach Tikva, Israel
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48
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Niu Z, Li L, Li H, Mei S, Jiang H, Deng Z, Xin J. Latent Profile Analysis of Perceptions and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 in a Sample of Chinese People. Front Public Health 2021; 9:727242. [PMID: 34646804 PMCID: PMC8502915 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.727242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease has spread quickly throughout China and around the world, endangering human health and life. Individuals' perceptions and attitudes as well as related health education measures may affect disease progression and prognosis during the COVID-19 outbreak. To promote and implement health education, research must focus on the perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 among Chinese people. The present study aimed to examine the profiles and predictive factors of the perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 in a sample of Chinese people. Methods: A sample of 2,663 Chinese people comprising medical staff and members of the general public completed an online survey on Wenjuanxing. The survey measured demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, education level, and place of residence) and perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19. Results: Two profiles of perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 (positive and negative perceptions and attitudes) were identified in the sample. Place of residence during the COVID-19 pandemic and first response to COVID-19 were found to be independent predictive factors for COVID-19 related perceptions and attitudes. Conclusion: In addition to drug therapy and mental health services, the perceptions and attitudes of Chinese people towards COVID-19 should be considered when promoting health education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Niu
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Hongying Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Songli Mei
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Deng
- First People Hospital of Kunshan, Kunshan, China
| | - Jun Xin
- Suzhou Municipal Party School, Suzhou, China
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49
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Wu Z, Jin Q, Wu G, Lu J, Li M, Guo D, Lan K, Feng L, Qian Z, Ren L, Tan W, Xu W, Yang W, Wang J, Wang C. SARS-CoV-2's origin should be investigated worldwide for pandemic prevention. Lancet 2021; 398:1299-1303. [PMID: 34543611 PMCID: PMC8448491 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02020-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Qi Jin
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Guizhen Wu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Mingkun Li
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, PR China
| | - Deyin Guo
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Luzhao Feng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhaohui Qian
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Lili Ren
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wenjie Tan
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wenbo Xu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Weizhong Yang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Chen Wang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China; Chinese Academy of Engineering, Beijing, PR China
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50
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Koltai M, Warsame A, Bashiir F, Freemantle T, Reeve C, Williams C, Jit M, Flasche S, Davies NG, Aweis A, Ahmed M, Dalmar A, Checchi F. Date of introduction and epidemiologic patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Mogadishu, Somalia: estimates from transmission modelling of satellite-based excess mortality data in 2020. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:255. [PMID: 35299709 PMCID: PMC8902262 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17247.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In countries with weak surveillance systems, confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths are likely to underestimate the pandemic's death toll. Many countries also have incomplete vital registration systems, hampering excess mortality estimation. Here, we fitted a dynamic transmission model to satellite imagery data of cemeteries in Mogadishu, Somalia during 2020 to estimate the date of introduction and other epidemiologic parameters of the early spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in this low-income, crisis-affected setting. Methods: We performed Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fitting with an age-structured compartmental COVID-19 model to provide median estimates and credible intervals for the date of introduction, the basic reproduction number ( R 0 ) and the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) up to August 2020. Results: Under the assumption that excess deaths in Mogadishu March-August 2020 were attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infections, we arrived at median estimates of November-December 2019 for the date of introduction and low R 0 estimates (1.4-1.7) reflecting the slow and early rise and long plateau of excess deaths. The date of introduction, the amount of external seeding, the infection fatality rate (IFR) and the effectiveness of NPIs are correlated parameters and not separately identifiable in a narrow range from deaths data. Nevertheless, to obtain introduction dates no earlier than November 2019 a higher population-wide IFR (≥0.7%) had to be assumed than obtained by applying age-specific IFRs from high-income countries to Somalia's age structure. Conclusions: Model fitting of excess mortality data across a range of plausible values of the IFR and the amount of external seeding suggests an early SARS-CoV-2 introduction event may have occurred in Somalia in November-December 2019. Transmissibility in the first epidemic wave was estimated to be lower than in European settings. Alternatively, there was another, unidentified source of sustained excess mortality in Mogadishu from March to August 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaly Koltai
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Farah Bashiir
- Somali Disaster Resilience Institute, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | | | | | | | - Mark Jit
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stefan Flasche
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - CMMID COVID-19 working group
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Somali Disaster Resilience Institute, Mogadishu, Somalia
- Satellite Applications Catapult, Didcot, UK
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