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High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence after Second COVID-19 Wave (October 2020–April 2021), Democratic Republic of the Congo

2023; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Volume: 29; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3201/eid2901.221009

1080-6059

Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama, Gervais T. Folefack, Marc K Yambayamba, Paul M Tshiminyi, Benito M. Kazenza, John Otokoye Otshudiema, Noé Guinko, Moreau D. Umba, Anastasie Mulumba, Lionel K Baketana, Patrick K Mukadi, Chris Smith, Jean‐Jacques Muyembé‐Tamfum, Steve Ahuka‐Mundeke, Sheila Makiala‐Mandanda,

COVID-19 epidemiological studies

Abstract Serologic surveys are important tools for estimating the true burden of COVID-19 in a given population. After the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a household-based survey conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, estimated >292 infections going undiagnosed for every laboratory-confirmed case. To ascertain the cumulative population exposure in Kinshasa after the second wave of COVID-19, we conducted a prospective population-based cross-sectional study using a highly sensitive and specific ELISA kit. The survey included 2,560 consenting persons from 585 households; 55% were female and 45% male. The overall population-weighted, test kit–adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 76.5% (95% CI 74.5%–78.5%). The seroprevalence was 4-fold higher than during the first wave, and positivity was associated with age, household average monthly income, and level of education. Evidence generated from this population-based survey can inform COVID-19 response, especially vaccination campaign strategies in the context of vaccine shortages and hesitancy.