SARS-CoV2 sero-survey among adults involved in health care and health research in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

Benn, C. S.; Salinha, A.; Mendes, S.; Cabral, C.; Martins, C.; Nielsen, S.; Fisker, A. B.; Schaltz-Buchholzer, F.; Joergensen, C. S.; Aaby, P.

Background Many African countries have reported fewer COVID-19 cases than countries elsewhere. By the end of 2020, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, had <2500 PCR-confirmed cases corresponding to 0.1% of the ~1.8 million national population. We assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies in urban Guinea-Bissau. Methods We measured IgG antibody in point-of-care rapid tests among 140 staff and associates at a biometric research field station in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, during November 2020. Results Of 140 participants, 25 (18%) were IgG-positive. Among IgG-positives, 12 (48%) reported an episode of illness since the onset of the pandemic. Twenty-five (18%) participants had been PCR-tested between May and September; 7 (28%) were PCR-positive. Four of these 7 tested IgG-negative in the present study. Five participants reported a death in their house, corresponding to a crude annual death rate of 4.5/1000 people; no death was attributed to COVID-19. Conclusions In spite of low official number of COVID-19 cases, our serosurvey found a high prevalence of IgG-positivity. Most IgG-positives had not been ill. The official number of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases grossly underestimates the prevalence during the pandemic. The observed overall mortality rate is not higher than the official Guinean mortality rate of 9.6/1000 people.