PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

SARS-CoV-2 variants-associated outbreaks of COVID-19 in a tertiary institution, North-Central Nigeria: Implications for epidemic control.

  • Oluwapelumi Olufemi Adeyemi,
  • Nnaemeka Darlington Ndodo,
  • Mariam Kehinde Sulaiman,
  • Oyeronke Temidayo Ayansola,
  • Oluwabunmi Idera Nimat Buhari,
  • Olusola Anuoluwapo Akanbi,
  • Oladimeji Akeem Bolarinwa,
  • Chimaobi Chukwu,
  • Ireoluwa Yinka Joel,
  • Adesuyi Ayodeji Omoare,
  • Kolawole Wasiu Wahab,
  • Celestina Obiekea,
  • Mikhail Olayinka Buhari,
  • Anthony Ahumibe,
  • Caroline Folasade Kolawole,
  • Catherine Okoi,
  • Olumuyiwa Babagbemi Omotesho,
  • Nwando Mba,
  • Oluwafemi Adeniyi,
  • Olajumoke Babatunde,
  • Nathaniel Akintunde,
  • Ganiu Ayinla,
  • Oluwatosin Wuraola Akande,
  • Rasheed Adekeye Odunola,
  • Mohammed Jimoh Saka,
  • Omotosho Ibrahim Musa,
  • Idayat Adenike Durotoye,
  • Chikwe Ihekweazu,
  • Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa,
  • Abayomi Fadeyi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280756
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
p. e0280756

Abstract

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The COVID-19 global pandemic is being driven by evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants with consequential implications on virus transmissibility, host immunity, and disease severity. Continuous molecular and genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 variants is therefore necessary for public health interventions toward the management of the pandemic. This study is a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases reported in a Nigerian tertiary institution from July to December 2021. In total, 705 suspected COVID-19 cases that comprised 547 students and 158 non-students were investigated by real time PCR (RT-PCR); of which 372 (~52.8%) tested positive for COVID-19. Using a set of selection criteria, 74 (~19.9%) COVID-19 positive samples were selected for next generation sequencing. Data showed that there were two outbreaks of COVID-19 within the university community over the study period, during which more females (56.8%) tested positive than males (47.8%) (p<0.05). Clinical data together with phylogenetic analysis suggested community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through mostly asymptomatic and/or pre-symptomatic individuals. Confirmed COVID-19 cases were mostly mild, however, SARS-CoV-2 delta (77%) and omicron (4.1%) variants were implicated as major drivers of respective waves of infections during the study period. This study highlights the importance of integrated surveillance of communicable disease during outbreaks.