Journal of Public Health in Africa (May 2022)
Epidemiological, virological and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 among individuals during the first wave in Cameroon: Baseline analysis for the EDCTP PERFECT-Study RIA2020EF-3000
- Joseph Fokam,
- Désiré Takou,
- Alex D. Nka,
- Aude C. Ka’e,
- Bouba Yagai,
- Collins A. Chenwi,
- Ezechiel N.J. Semengue,
- Grâce A. Beloumou,
- Sandrine C.D. Ndjeyep,
- Aissatou Abba,
- Willy Pabo,
- Davy Gouissi,
- Michel C.T. Tchouaket,
- Laeticia Yatchou,
- Krystel Zam,
- Lucien Mama,
- Regine C. Ekitti,
- Nadine Fainguem,
- Rachel Kamgaing,
- Samuel M. Sosso,
- Nicaise Ndembi,
- Vittorio Colizzi,
- Carlo-Federico Perno,
- Alexis Ndjolo
Affiliations
- Joseph Fokam
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde
- Désiré Takou
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Alex D. Nka
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun
- Aude C. Ka’e
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun
- Bouba Yagai
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome
- Collins A. Chenwi
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde
- Ezechiel N.J. Semengue
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun
- Grâce A. Beloumou
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Sandrine C.D. Ndjeyep
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Aissatou Abba
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Willy Pabo
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Davy Gouissi
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Michel C.T. Tchouaket
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Laeticia Yatchou
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Krystel Zam
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Lucien Mama
- Cite Verte Health District, Delegation of Public Health, Yaoundé
- Regine C. Ekitti
- Police Medical Centre, Yaoundé
- Nadine Fainguem
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun
- Rachel Kamgaing
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Samuel M. Sosso
- 1Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé
- Nicaise Ndembi
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa
- Vittorio Colizzi
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun
- Carlo-Federico Perno
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome
- Alexis Ndjolo
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.2142
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13,
no. 1
Abstract
In Cameroon, COVID-19 infection spread rapidly and nationwide, with up to 721 deaths reported. To the best of our knowledge, no study reported the on-theground data using a large patients’ dataset to give a comprehensive knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to shade lights on the epidemiological, virological and clinical features of COVID-19 in the Cameroonian context. An observational study was conducted among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR on nasopharyngeal samples from April 22nd, 2020 to January 5th, 2021. Out of 14119 individuals (59.8% male), overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 12.7% (from 7.9% in 60 years, p10%) and was associated with the presence of symptoms and older age. Most of the infection is among young and asymptomatic individuals, suggesting the “track-and-test” strategy should target these potential transmitters.
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