TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence in Malawi Based on Data from Survey of Communities and Health Workers in 5 High-Burden Districts, October 2020
AU - Public Health Institute of Malawi COVID-19 surveillance committee
AU - Theu, Joe Alex
AU - Kabaghe, Alinune Nathanael
AU - Bello, George
AU - Chitsa-Banda, Evelyn
AU - Kagoli, Matthews
AU - Auld, Andrew
AU - Mkungudza, Jonathan
AU - O’Malley, Gabrielle
AU - Bangara, Fred Fredrick
AU - Peacocke, Elizabeth F.
AU - Babaye, Yusuf
AU - Ng’ambi, Wingston
AU - Saussier, Christel
AU - MacLachlan, Ellen
AU - Chapotera, Gertrude
AU - Phiri, Mphatso Dennis
AU - Kim, Evelyn
AU - Chiwaula, Mabvuto
AU - Payne, Danielle
AU - Wadonda-Kabondo, Nellie
AU - Chauma-Mwale, Annie
AU - Divala, Titus Henry
AU - Amoah, Abena
AU - Bitilinyu, Joseph
AU - Mvula, Bernard
AU - Chiwaula, Mavuto
AU - Samuel, Vincent
AU - Blair, Christopher Lington
AU - Chalira, Davie
AU - Chimwaza, Wiseman
AU - Crampin, Amelia
AU - Divala, Oscar
AU - Jambo, Kondwani
AU - Kasambara, Watipaso
AU - Manda, Kingsley
AU - Mankhamba, Regina
AU - Mapemba, Daniel
AU - Mitambo, Collins
AU - Msukwa, Malango
AU - Ngwalangwa, Fatsani
AU - Ntopi, Simon
AU - Nyoni, Kenneth
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - To determine early COVID-19 burden in Malawi, we conducted a multistage cluster survey in 5 districts. During October–December 2020, we recruited 5,010 community members (median age 32 years, interquartile range 21–43 years) and 1,021 health facility staff (HFS) (median age 35 years, interquartile range 28–43 years). Real-time PCR–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence was 0.3% (95% CI 0.2%–0.5%) among community and 0.5% (95% CI 0.1%–1.2%) among HFS participants; seroprevalence was 7.8% (95% CI 6.3%–9.6%) among community and 9.7% (95% CI 6.4%–14.5%) among HFS participants. Most seropositive community (84.7%) and HFS (76.0%) participants were asymptomatic. Seroprevalence was higher among urban community (12.6% versus 3.1%) and HFS (14.5% versus 7.4%) than among rural community participants. Cumulative infection findings 113-fold higher from this survey than national statistics (486,771 versus 4,319) and predominantly asymptomatic infections highlight a need to identify alternative surveillance approaches and predictors of severe disease to inform national response.
AB - To determine early COVID-19 burden in Malawi, we conducted a multistage cluster survey in 5 districts. During October–December 2020, we recruited 5,010 community members (median age 32 years, interquartile range 21–43 years) and 1,021 health facility staff (HFS) (median age 35 years, interquartile range 28–43 years). Real-time PCR–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence was 0.3% (95% CI 0.2%–0.5%) among community and 0.5% (95% CI 0.1%–1.2%) among HFS participants; seroprevalence was 7.8% (95% CI 6.3%–9.6%) among community and 9.7% (95% CI 6.4%–14.5%) among HFS participants. Most seropositive community (84.7%) and HFS (76.0%) participants were asymptomatic. Seroprevalence was higher among urban community (12.6% versus 3.1%) and HFS (14.5% versus 7.4%) than among rural community participants. Cumulative infection findings 113-fold higher from this survey than national statistics (486,771 versus 4,319) and predominantly asymptomatic infections highlight a need to identify alternative surveillance approaches and predictors of severe disease to inform national response.
U2 - 10.3201/eid2813.212348
DO - 10.3201/eid2813.212348
M3 - Article
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 28
SP - S76-S84
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
IS - 13
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being