Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 IgG in Juba, South Sudan, 20201
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Date
2021
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Japan Cooperative Medical Sciences Program—Virtual Workshop
Abstract
Relatively few coronavirus disease cases and deaths have been reported from sub-Saharan Africa, although the extent
of its spread remains unclear. During August 10–September 11, 2020, we recruited 2,214 participants for a representative
household-based cross-sectional serosurvey in Juba, South Sudan. We found 22.3% of participants had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) receptor binding domain IgG titers above prepandemic levels. After accounting for waning antibody levels, age, and sex, we estimated that 38.3% (95% credible interval 31.8%–46.5%) of the population had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. At this rate, for each PCR–confi rmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported by the Ministry of Health, 103 (95% credible interval 86–126) infections would have been unreported, meaning SARS-CoV-2 has likely spread extensively within Juba. We also found diff erences in background reactivity in Juba compared with Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the immunoassay was validated. Our fi ndings underscore the need to validate serologic tests in sub-Saharan Africa populations.
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Keywords
Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus