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. 2019 Nov 6;220(12):1915-1925.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz396.

Impact of Zika Virus Emergence in French Guiana: A Large General Population Seroprevalence Survey

Claude Flamand  1 , Sarah Bailly  1 , Camille Fritzell  1 , Léna Berthelot  2 , Jessica Vanhomwegen  3 , Henrik Salje  4 , Juliette Paireau  4 , Séverine Matheus  2   3 , Antoine Enfissi  2 , Sandrine Fernandes-Pellerin  5 , Félix Djossou  6 , Sébastien Linares  7 , Jean-François Carod  8 , Mirdad Kazanji  1 , Jean-Claude Manuguerra  3 , Simon Cauchemez  4 , Dominique Rousset  2
Affiliations

Impact of Zika Virus Emergence in French Guiana: A Large General Population Seroprevalence Survey

Claude Flamand et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Since the identification of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil in May 2015, the virus has spread throughout the Americas. However, ZIKV burden in the general population in affected countries remains unknown.

Methods: We conducted a general population survey in the different communities of French Guiana through individual interviews and serologic survey during June-October 2017. All serum samples were tested for anti-ZIKV immunoglobulin G antibodies using a recombinant antigen-based SGERPAxMap microsphere immunoassay, and some of them were further evaluated through anti-ZIKV microneutralization tests.

Results: The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 23.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.9%-25.9%) among 2697 participants, varying from 0% to 45.6% according to municipalities. ZIKV circulated in a large majority of French Guiana but not in the most isolated forest areas. The proportion of reported symptomatic Zika infection was estimated at 25.5% (95% CI, 20.3%-31.4%) in individuals who tested positive for ZIKV.

Conclusions: This study described a large-scale representative ZIKV seroprevalence study in South America from the recent 2015-2016 Zika epidemic. Our findings reveal that the majority of the population remains susceptible to ZIKV, which could potentially allow future reintroductions of the virus.

Keywords: French Guiana; Zika virus; general population survey; seroprevalence study.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of French Guiana with geographical areas.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Spatial distribution of Zika virus seroprevalence, French Guiana.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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