Artikel
Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana: A cross-sectional study from April to June 2022 in Kumasi
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Autoren
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George Agyei
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah of University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness (G-WAC)
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Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University, Kumasi, Ghana; German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness (G-WAC)
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Philip El-Duah
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness (G-WAC)
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Augustina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Therese Muzeniek
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
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Tiina Mauno
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
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Verena Heyde
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
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Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah of University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Christian Drosten
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness (G-WAC)
| Veröffentlicht: | 28. November 2023 |
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Gliederung
Text
Research question: This study sought to answer the following questions:
- 1.
- What is the prevalence and genomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 in Kumasi, Ghana?
- 2.
- What is the disease exposure and COVID-19 vaccination rates from April to June, 2022 in Kumasi, Ghana?
Methods: We sampled individuals visiting the Kwadaso SDA hospital COVID-19 Testing Center, Kumasi and collected data on socio-demography, clinical symptoms, and vaccination status from 83 people. Nasopharyngeal swabs and sera were obtained. Viral RNA was extracted and tested with a pan-Sarbecovirus real-time RT-PCR. Samples with Ct=30 were sequenced. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins by ELISA. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis of data was then performed.
Results: Participants comprised patients (47%), hospital staff (20.5%) and international travelers (32.5%) who were aged 3–40 years and mostly males (67.5%). Common symptoms reported by patients included cough (33.7%), headache (30.1%), sore throat (21.7%), general weakness (13.3%), runny nose (12%) and fever or chills (14.5%). Chi-square analysis showed that coughing (χ2-value: 18.7, p<0.0001) and having a sore throat (p=0.0010) were significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination rate was 72.5% and RNA positivity was 42.2%. We could not demonstrate that vaccination prevented infection (OR=1.38, CI: 0.48–4.01, p=0.553). Four BA.4 (22A) and one BA.5 (22B) Omicron variant sequences were obtained. Antibody positivity was 65% for S only and 35% for both S and N.
Discussion: The findings in this study suggest a high SARS-CoV-2 positivity and vaccination rate among people presenting with symptoms of respiratory illness in Kumasi between April and June of 2022. The high vaccination rate among participants, as compared to the reported national average of 57.3% may be partly attributed to the composition of study participants with a high proportion made up of healthcare workers and potential international travelers who are more likely to be vaccinated. The omicron variant appeared to be the main driver of infections with BA4 and BA5 subvariants co-circulating relatively early as compared to many countries in Europe. Our inability to demonstrate vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection reflects the immune escape properties of these subvariants. Protection against severe infection could not be assessed.
